In October we lost Dr Jane Goodall. At a time where we need these beautiful strong souls
who fight for good in a world where sometimes there seems very little hope for the future,
her passing left me feeling sad.
But one quote of hers has stuck with me ‘Hope is a human survival trait, without which
we perish.’ Deep down, I am an optimist. Although I worry, overthink and have a very loud inner critic, I can usually find a little bit of hope or something to make me smile. In my darkest days I can remember one morning, walking my dog, and realising that although horrible things had happened and life was hard, the sky was a gorgeous shade of blue, I lived in a beautiful, safe part of the world, and I could walk my dog, who I was also lucky to have. This was a turning point. I do thank my lucky stars every day.
I was also taught, by a lecturer during my art education, to look up. We miss an awful lot
just walking through life looking forward – but we miss details around us by always looking where we are going (obviously watch out for lamp posts!). The lecturer was talking about architecture at the time, but I apply this to everything.
Sometimes looking at things from a different perspective can change the course of a day, just because you’ve noticed something beautiful.
To me, being creative means having something in us which is always searching for those tiny beautiful things or moments, which might otherwise be passed by. It can be anything, but we are always subconsciously seeking out that little bit of beauty. If I can teach my children anything, it is this, to keep seeking out beauty, however tough or ugly life is. (As they are teenagers, this kind of talk is usually met with a roll of the eyes!).
I did actually start writing this post the day after Dr Jane Goodall passed away, but life got a little busy (in a good way) and I hadn’t found the time to look through my photos to add to it.
I had a bit of time this weekend, and looking back through my archive of memories is another thing that reminds me how lucky I am.
We are heading into my favourite time of year. The sun is finally shining and the flowers are out in the hedgerows. Speedwell and bluebells fill me with pure joy – those blues! I love the seasons, but Spring is the time for hope – no matter what is going on on the world, nature keeps on doing it’s thing and nurturing our souls with it’s beauty.
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