Beauty

“Not a word!” Calliope held up her hand.

“But…”

Tal cut Nia’s sentence at the root. “It’s perfect.”

Nia spoke faster than the Roadrunner being chased by Wile E. Coyote. “There’s too much space between the L and the O!”

“And that is why,” Cal put her hands on her hips, “people don’t try new things. Ahem… the inner critic can be a real brat. Can you please tell us what you like about Paintist’s latest creation?”

“Well… Her use of yoga poses to spell LOVE is creative, and I like her color choices. The paint splatters add interest,” Nia answered.

“Can we tell the readers?”Thalia wiggled in her seat. “Of course we can! Our work is in a gallery. A GALLERY!”

Calliope and Urania couldn’t help but giggle at Tal’s excitement.

“Our friend DW, who is working with some online tool called… What’s it called?” Tal asked.

Nia looked at the note she’d jotted on the back of an envelope. “A digital gallery created in Unlearn Engine… or something like that.” She set the envelope down. “It’s not public or anything, but that’s irrelevant. The beauty is… Our friend borrowed drawings from OUR newsletter to use while learning a new skill. WE saw the gallery… and that’s what matters.”

“To see our creations in that kind of environment was so cool!” Thalia carried on. “There’s lighting, and a staircase, and Paintist’s work hanging everywhere. For most of her life, Typist thought artists were curious rarities, and now she is one! Everybody is really… creating life one choice at a time.”

“Beauty and love,” said Calliope, “is relationship. Thanks for seeing us DW.”

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A word from Typist:

Yesterday I was gifted two consecutive thought-enhancing conversations.

In the first, my friend Margaret shared a project she’s working on with people who lost a significant other during lockdown. One thing in particular that she shared that is sticking to me like glue is the idea of looking for beauty in everyday, seemingly ordinary experiences.

If you see a little gem today, will you share with us in comments?

In the second, my friend Kara pointed to a great shift happening in human evolution… it gives me Godbumps just to think about it! We are at a point where we can choose to override our fear-based, threat-seeking instincts and choose to engage with love and beauty instead. No small hat trick, but really fun to practice! (Did you hear me Nia?)