Surrounded by Nature’s Beauty, I Am Inspired

There is art everywhere ~ DEP Prompt #3

May love and laughter light your days. ~ An Irish Blessing

I’ve got a thing with photographing empty benches.

And I couldn’t tell you from where it stems. Perhaps it’s a sentiment of the endless possibilities I imagine when I see that seemingly empty space. Or, could it be a sense of loneliness?

I don’t think it’s the latter because I’ve traveled to 35 countries — mostly as a solo trekker. Rarely have I found myself lonely, even when it’s just me. There’s a big difference between being alone and feeling lonely.

But, I digress.

This is not about the beautiful people I met during that May 2018 to Ireland (where the cover pic was taken). Nor is it about my obsession with benches.

Thinking about the prompt, I wanted to tackle it from a different angle.

Of course, there are artists whose work I admire: dancers, writers, poets, filmmakers, and educators who have impacted me. But this time, I wanted another route.

I preferred to go philosophical.

To put it succinctly: nature is my canvas. She provides the backdrop for me to paint my mural. And it is a lifelong piece of work.

Often the piece is messy, and the colors are sometimes dark (as it goes these days). Other times, I visualize the mural as a treasure, one where each stroke flows rhythmically into the next.

Then there are days when all I wish to do is observe the beauty around me. Whether I do so in another country or right here in my own backyard, it matters not where I am physically located.

What matters most is that I continue to allow nature to inspire me. Some days, I’ll take my notebook to the beach. Hearing the ocean’s waves brings calm and allows creative energy to flow. Writing poetry in that setting is beyond beautiful.

Or walking barefoot on the grass, feeling my toes being tickled by its blades — those are priceless moments. During those, I feel such an immense connection with nature.

Even dancing in the rain, letting the drops caress my face and arms, legs, and feet — this reminds me that each moment is a gift.

And when I find myself overwhelmed by life’s challenges, I stop to take a few deep breaths — to give gratitude for the wonderment of being alive.

Shoutout to Sharing Randomly for the prompt, and to the entire team at Dancing Elephants Press (Dr. Preeti Singh, Dr. Gabriella Korosi, Vidya Sury, Collecting Smiles). I appreciate you and thank you for letting me take the prompt on another [albeit, short] path.