Often when I’m walking in the woods early in the morning I’ve been struck by how different things look as I’m walking east (towards the sun) as opposed to with the sun at my back. Leaves all lit up with sunlight beaming through them are beautiful and veiny and bright as I’m approaching from the west. But as soon as I’ve passed them and I turn to look back, they’ve changed back into their ordinary selves, at least, as ordinary as a leaf can be. That beautiful glow is gone. Their shapes, however nice, do not make my eyes widen with their brilliance.
Often when I’m walking in the woods early in the morning I’ve been struck by how different things look as I’m walking east (towards the sun) as opposed to with the sun at my back. Leaves all lit up with sunlight beaming through them are beautiful and veiny and bright as I’m approaching from the west. But as soon as I’ve passed them and I turn to look back, they’ve changed back into their ordinary selves, at least, as ordinary as a leaf can be. That beautiful glow is gone. Their shapes, however nice, do not make my eyes widen with their brilliance.
“I knew life began where I stood in the dark, looking out into the light.”
– Yusef Komunyakaa
On the other hand, isn’t it cozy and warming to have the sun at your back? And don’t you see better when the sun is not in your eyes? And isn’t it rather inspiring to see your shadow cast as tall as can be, making you feel like you could do anything at all? Hmm. As usual, nothing is black or white. And that’s a good thing, I think.
“Leave the door open for the unknown, the door into the dark. That’s where the most important things come from.” – Rebecca Solnit
Which way do we choose to look at any given moment and what difference will that make in what we see?
If you’re looking for my cards or art, you’ll find all of that on my website. And if you like this letter, you’ll find past letters and poems on my blog.
It’s nice for me to think of you out there, reading this. I hope your day is filled with both light and dark.
Thanks for listening,
Kay
P.S. MerryThoughts is the name of my first book, out of print at the moment. The word is a British one, referring both to a wishbone and to the ritual of breaking the wishbone with the intention of either having a wish granted or being the one who marries first, thus the “merry thoughts.”
