Beauty is everywhere. Those with eyes to see it will find life filled with whimsy.
With that belief firmly established in my mind, I begin this blog dedicated to making much out of what may seem insignificant.
As a senior history major, every day finds itself filled with endless tasks and stresses. As a beauty addict, this can be nearly detrimental to caring for myself. It is all too easy for me to get entirely caught up in deadlines, grades, and schedules planned out in fifteen minute increments. Thus, this blog became something of a necessity.
I currently have a bit of a private beauty outlet in my Tumblr, but I felt that it would do good to have a place to extol the specific elements of beauty and wonder I find in my own experience, if for no other reason than to remind myself that life is so much more than keeping my head down and mind on the urgent.
Several things have deeply influenced me in regard to appreciating life. First, One Thousand Gifts by Ann Voksamp. Her short book takes on beauty in the details of life from a religious perspective – in short, God blesses us with bits and pieces of who He is in the world He has given us. It documents Voksamp’s own journey to find 1,000 gifts in her every day life that, no matter how simple, point back to the beauty of the Creator. Though I read this book years ago, it still influences the way that I seek and find beauty in minute details (Voksamp speaks of beauty in the soap suds). Life is beautiful. We live in a world full of incredible wonders just awaiting our observation.
Second, the film About Time. If you haven’t seen it, stop what you’re doing – well, you can finish reading this post – and watch it. I don’t want to spoil the plot for anyone, but the concept in my header – the extraordinary ordinary – comes directly from this film. The story follows a young British man who has a spectacular gift – time travel. Upon maturing and learning about the brevity and beauty of life, he realizes that, even without his gift, the ordinary parts of life are actually quite extraordinary, if only he has the proper perspective. My synopsis makes the film rather “lesson-oriented,” but I assure you, it is filled with whimsy, wit, and all kinds of extraordinary ordinary beauty.
Third, Owl City’s song “Plant Life.” This song is filled with playful imagery and captivating lyrics as seemingly elusive as my 10th grade algebra textbook. The music first caught my ear and endless replays led to a full appreciation of the lyrics. There’s a line in it: “I’d rather waltz than just walk through the forest” That’s how I want to live life. Sure I could walk straight through and that’s perfectly fine, but really, I’d rather see life as a waltz through the forest.
So what kind of things will I put on here? In some ways, I don’t even know. Life is full of surprises. It only makes sense that this outlet of beauty in the fullness of life would be full of surprises as well.
I’m not a beginner when it comes to squealing over soft puppy kisses, home made apple pie fresh out of the oven, or a yard full of millions of dandelion seeds (yes, I have seen this). Maybe it’s just that I’m indecisive, but I’m not limiting myself in what I will blog about. It may be a new pencil skirt with the chambray top I’m particularly proud of or it may be a monologue about the season of transition I’m about to enter or it may even be lots of brag photos about the aforementioned apple pie.
If you know me, maybe you’ll appreciate the updates on my life. If not, welcome! I hope you’ll find this spot a place you want to come back to. I know for me, it will be a haven – an escape from the chaos to enjoy the beauty of the extraordinary ordinary.
Waltz Thru The Forest 