pictures are worth a thousand words

and i'm having a hard time finding my own today.

this picture, and the words of others are all i find myself relating to.

"For everything you have missed, you have gained something else, and for everything you gain, you lose something else." 

-Ralph Waldo Emerson

"Once in your life, I truly believe you find someone who can completely turn your world around. You tell them things that you’ve never shared with another soul and they absorb everything you say and actually want to hear more. You share hopes for the future, dreams that will never come true, goals that were never achieved and the many disappointments life has thrown at you. When something wonderful happens, you can’t wait to tell them about it, knowing they will share in your excitement. They are not embarrassed to cry with you when you are hurting or laugh with you when you make a fool of yourself. Never do they hurt your feelings or make you feel like you are not good enough, but rather they build you up and show you the things about yourself that make you special and even beautiful. There is never any pressure, jealousy or competition but only a quiet calmness when they are around. You can be yourself and not worry about what they will think of you because they love you for who you are. The things that seem insignificant to most people such as a note, song or walk become invaluable treasures kept safe in your heart to cherish forever. Memories of your childhood come back and are so clear and vivid it’s like being young again. Colours seem brighter and more brilliant. Laughter seems part of daily life where before it was infrequent or didn’t exist at all. A phone call or two during the day helps to get you through a long day’s work and always brings a smile to your face. In their presence, there’s no need for continuous conversation, but you find you’re quite content in just having them nearby. Things that never interested you before become fascinating because you know they are important to this person who is so special to you. You think of this person on every occasion and in everything you do. Simple things bring them to mind like a pale blue sky, gentle wind or even a storm cloud on the horizon. You open your heart knowing that there’s a chance it may be broken one day and in opening your heart, you experience a love and joy that you never dreamed possible. You find that being vulnerable is the only way to allow your heart to feel true pleasure that’s so real it scares you. You find strength in knowing you have a true friend and possibly a soul mate who will remain loyal to the end. Life seems completely different, exciting and worthwhile. Your only hope and security is in knowing that they are a part of your life.”

-Bob Marley

<3

just 'cause you're breathing,

doesn't mean you're alive.

every day i pass these yellow tulips on 59th & Park on my way to and from work.

they're in the middle of an intersection, and today i got caught inbetween the green traffic lights on both sides of this tulip island, signaling cars to pass in opposite directions.

it's funny because this very moment in the middle of the street is one of my favorites; for a second the world gets smaller, and there's something so peaceful about staying still while everything moves around you. i guess one could say that it's a bit ironic to feel this way in such a city, but i love it.

stranded on the island, i took a better look at these tulips and this is what i saw:

a little bud, hidden underneath the covers.

suddenly the bigger tulips seemed almost tacky in comparison, with their louder petals, their floppy shape.

the little one became more interesting, had more depth, and there was something special about it.

lately i've been discouraged by our society -- in this generation consumed by social media, encouragement of everything publicized, instant gratification, instant EVERYTHING, sometimes i feel that we lessen the significance of moments and events that are meant to be more than just surface level good.  we've become books wide open, less intimate, less sacred.

i don't deny the good that can come from staying plugged in, but today was a reminder that doing so for too long with too much leads to nothing unique.  in a world full of loud buds, i want to keep moments worth keeping to myself, share with those worth sharing with, and keep my distance from the rest of the noise.

"To live is the rarest thing in the world.  

most people exist, that's all."

there's nothing to be gained from being like everyone else.

because when the wind blows, your petals will fall out, like everyone else.

xxmon