OUR POTENTIAL FOR GROWTH

EVERY NOBLE PURSUIT; NO MATTER HOW SMALL ~ HOLDS GREAT POTENTIAL

Picture a beautiful bouquet of flowers brought home from the market, and the moment in which the blooms are assembled in simple vases in order to add a touch of beauty to a breakfast table. Some of the buds have not fully bloomed and are artfully mixed with the ones that have; yet, in the midst of these two, there are tiny little ones that seem far from becoming flowers. They are almost too small to be noticed, but are placed nonetheless within the freshest of water.

Many days later, the little buds begin to grow and show the potential for beautiful blooms to be enjoyed in later days.

This is what happened to me as I arranged beautiful white freesias for a weekend breakfast with friends. I am fascinated by the little buds that seem to grow each day of the week, and it made me think of how many times, we are afraid to pursue noble causes, with the idea that our efforts might be too small; especially when compared to already blooming ones.

No effort is too small, and every big accomplishment starts with small constant actions.

Therefore, I invite you to give, I invite you to act, to love, and to forge ahead with all noble pursuits; for every one of these makes the difference, millions of individuals are afraid they won't make.

lovely image found via tumblr

CELEBRATING A BEAUTIFUL LIFE

AN INVITATION TO HELP CELEBRATE A BEAUTIFUL LIFE

If you are reading these lines, be happy and celebrate, for it is an indication that you are indeed enjoying one of the most beautiful gifts; the one to have been given life!

This weekend I had the opportunity to meet a new baby boy, born to dear friends two weeks ago. Everyone around this little one would not cease to be amazed at the beauty of new life; so filled with possibility and a capacity for love and goodness.

During each birthday, one usually receives good wishes; not only from those who were present on the the actual birth date, but even those that came into your life much after. It is a celebration worth mentioning and it would serve us to stop every single day and remember the valuable gift we have been given.

But what would you do with such a treasure? Before I give you a few words related to this very question, allow me to share the story of a wonderful and beautiful lady that has been given the amazing gift of one hundred and four years! Her name is Edythe, and she will be celebrating her 105th birthday on January 22nd (just a few days way).

She has always been concerned with helping others and making the most out of her time on this earth. In honor of her birthday, she would like to challenge others to help out with a cause close to her heart.

I would like to invite you to join her and celebrate her amazing spirit of joy and generosity. You may find the challenge right here!

And going back to preserving a beautiful treasure, I leave you with a few lines I wrote many years ago. I believe these words can be applied both to life and loved ones, so I hope they make an impression of beauty on each one of you:

How to Preserve a Given Treasure

Do not let the everyday debris cover the beauty
of that wonderful treasure you have been given.

Go ahead; dust it off, as dust is superfluous
and worthless; it is nothing but particles of matter,
regarded as the result of disintegration.
It makes it opaque; impenetrable by light.

Quite the contrary, try to polish it, to remove
the outer layers, so that its shine and beauty are everlasting.

Remember; dust is inevitable, but with a good piece of cloth,
and the willingness to make it shine; its beauty will be preserved
for years to come ..............

Do not let this happen to you, that when a day comes
that your treasure appears dusty and useless,
you dispose of it thinking it has lost its worth.

Someone then may unbury such wonder and polish it to perfection,
finding great enjoyment, in the midst of an ever dusty world ..............

lovely image found via Julie Blanner

BE A LIGHT FOR OTHERS

"FEAR IS THAT LITTLE DARK ROOM WHERE NEGATIVES ARE DEVELOPED"

I write these lines as I enjoy the beauty of the season. Christmas is such a wonderful celebration and I am so glad to be able to enjoy the full twelve days! As I look back on twenty twelve, I am compelled to share a bit of the magnanimous gifts received.

Since about ten years ago, I have shared on a tradition to pick from a card stack around Christmas time. Each one of these cards depicts the name of a Saint, as well as a virtue particular to their life.

Last year I happened to receive St. Lucy, and the virtue to "be a light for others". Each year I am amazed at how many opportunities I am given to persevere on each particular virtue and twenty twelve was not the exception.

I find that despite the dark moments of life, there is always light poured upon us. Sometimes perhaps just a flickering one, but even if light does not dispel all darkness completely, it allows for beauty to be noticed by a combination of brightness and shadows that shape both our character and humanity.

I am glad and humbled to be able to share every bit of light and beauty I may find with all of you. I hope for many opportunities to do so during twenty thirteen, and I invite you to follow along the way and share some of your own bright and beautiful moments.

lovely image via wit + delight

BEAUTIFUL MUSIC

MUSIC CAN TAKE YOU TO YOUR INNERMOST BEING AND WHISPER TO YOUR EAR

As I write these lines, I listen to the autumn playlist that Allison Baughman for Verily Magazine put together and I am reminded of the wonderful effect music has had on me over the years.

I remember writing a poem on my father's funeral day to the sound of beautiful music, back when I was 11 years old, and up to this day, the words of such writings amaze me and show great depth.

Back in college I used to search the public library for interesting albums with artists I've never heard of and through this very practice, I found amazing music that inspired me during nighttime drives or brainstorming sessions.

Music has the ability to transport me to beautiful places or moments, inspire new ideas and make my soul sing. Music can take you to your innermost being and whisper beauty to your ear; sometimes it can play as a background to life, just as experienced within a movie scene; it makes you stop and be present to a particular moment to cherish.

This summer I was able to spend time with two wonderful people who have an acquired taste for great tunes and hold a rather large music library. I had a great time listening to new options and I came back home renewed.

Make sure you check out Verily's autumn playlist (my favorites turned out to be MS MR and The Xx).

For more music within a similar genre, try The Xx or Röyksopp stations on Pandora Radio.

lovely image via haute design