Seeking Beauty

Photo by Vagabond Shutterbug on Flickr

Robin Morris, a Beauty Dialogues reader who’s become a friend over the years, has paid me the highest compliment a writer could wish for. Here’s a letter I received from her a little over a week ago:

“I had a thought this morning that I wanted to share with you in relation to your connection with "beauty".  It was one of those moments this morning when it felt like a light was turned on in a very dark corner. Recently I've been struggling with the transition and loss around my divorce, and I had the realization that I need to shift my focus from dwelling on "why?", or "what did I do/what could I have done?", to "what do I need to heal?" or something close to that.

At first I assumed this looked like a gratitude journal or focusing on positive outcomes of the change in my life, but what I realized as I walked with my sweet puppy this morning, is that what I need is to be able to see the beauty in my life.

Gratitude feels natural, I've kept a gratitude journal off and on for many years to help me through dark times and I can now say with confidence that even when things are at their worst I'm always able to give thanks for some gift. But it is this idea - that even in the darkness I'm surrounded by beauty - that takes my breath away today.

I'm excited to start my "beauty journal". I hope it's ok that I've shared my ah-ha moment with you, I believe the thought came partly because of the exposure to the idea of beauty as its own animal that came via your blog.  Thanks for reminding me there is always divine beauty around me.  It is in this direction that I cast my vision.  I would say that I'll let you know if I see anything spectacular, but I imagine something like that will show up at least daily.

Thanks for being part of my world, and for sharing so much of yourself even with folks like me who you may never meet in person.

And more recently, Robin sent this update:

“I've enjoyed the beauty process since starting last week. Journaling has been nice, but really my favorite part is actively seeking beauty. This morning I saw something that makes me smile even now as I remember it. I was walking and in the field I walk by every day, there were a group Canada Geese just hanging out.  The fun part was that they were hidden in the tall brown grass and all you could see of them were there long necks and elegant heads. They were like a secret surprise waiting to be seen and adored, and adore them I did.”