“I was a dandelion puff...Some saw the beauty in me and stooped quietly to admire my innocence. Others saw the potential of what I could do for them, so they uprooted me, seeking to shape me around their needs. They blew at my head, scattering my hair from the roots, changing me to suit them. Yet still others saw me as something that was unworthy and needed to be erased.”
― Nicole Bailey-Williams
What A Beautiful Poem To Begin This Post ..
I usually end my posts with a quote related to whatever it is I am writing about on that particular day, and most often combined with a picture of Molly or Pepper (rest his little soul). Today I felt a little different, because I was feeling the need for a little bit of change I suppose. Worldly news, local news, and even personal news is flowing in everyday, reminding me that my life is not perfect, and I most certainly don't live in a perfect world.
I was reminded of this just a few days ago.. I was outdoors with Molly as the sun was setting over the lake. I noticed a dandelion seed puff sprouted up about 6 inches off the cool, frosty ground. Instead of kicking it over, picking it and blowing the seeds into the air, or pouncing it into oblivion, I decided to look at life from a different perspective.
I took a moment, knelt to the ground.. and snapped a photo of the sun setting directly behind it. Pepper used to stop and smell every one of these dandelions, as if they smelled like a rose or as if there where a treat sitting on the top of them. He couldn't help himself and the memory of that made me smile. I heard the click of the shutter and saw a brief preview of a beautiful photograph.
"PERFECT" Shot I thought to myself. I was so proud of my ability to quickly take the perfect artistic photograph!!
I was wrong ..
It would have been the perfect shot if it were not for my innate ability to look past the imperfection dangling below the puff. The spent flower was still ever so lightly attached to a handful of seeds below. How could I not have noticed this? I am usually good at seeing the little things and picking them out. Not this time. This time I was focused on the beauty of the sun lighting the seed puff from behind, making it the star of the show. Unaware of the small imperfection that would end up making the photo unique and "real" in my mind.
The shot was "Practically Perfect".. as my wife and Marry Poppins would say. I could possibly have take the shot again after pulling off the bits of dried flower, but I didn't. I decided not to follow the road of perfection, but rather I embrace the imperfection given to me in that moment, and one that I was originally blind to. I would feel foolish looking at this "as something that was unworthy and needed to be erased.”(N. Bailey-Williams)
The photo got my mind drifting and sifting.. and soon my thoughts where flowing. I thought it would be almost "Perfect" to include them in today's post. @jaynie as well as a few others have been posting similar material on Hive, which didn't help matters.. haha. I once read somewhere that the road to perfection winds through imperfect lands .. or something like that. I can't remember who said that, but I couldn't have said it better myself.
I find it quite comforting.. knowing that I am under no delusion that I am a perfect, non sinning individual, who happens to travel a perfect road to a perfect destination. I quite readily admit I am not perfect. I don't want to be perfect either, because I have rather grown attached to my unique imperfections. Life is full of them, so why fight it?
I have been blessed with limitations, hurdles and imperfections. There, I said it so now I can move along and enjoy my life knowing they make me who I am, and give me the strength to show empathy towards others also blessed with such things.
Every day I strive to be a little better than yesterday.. a person less likely to form negative judgements and one who looks past the negative traits of others that do not impact my own life in a negative way. This part of life, takes a lot of constant work, recognizing when your wrong, admitting when your wrong, asking forgiveness and forgiving yourself. Like I said, I am not perfect.
It took a dandelion to remind me of something important.. To stay on the imperfect path God has laid out before me, because I know it's the right one.
Thank you for swinging by my blog and checking out the post. Have a great day!
“In a world full of roses, stand out like a dandelion in the middle of a green, plush lawn!”
― June Stoyer
I couldn't help myself.. You get another quote at the end, as usual. Thinking of Pepper sniffing those dandelions, and I knew exactly what picture I would be using.
All words, pictures and art pieces are the sole property of B D Miller Gallery, unless otherwise noted and credited, and are not to be reproduced or copied without the prior written consent of B D Miller Gallery.
About Me ~ The Artist
My art work incorporates a wide variety of subject matter, including landscape, seascape, cityscape, and still life images. My works are the product of a continuing process of exploration through which I seek to portray personal and visionary interpretations of my surroundings. My paintings are impressions of places and events from everyday life, an interpretation of my imagination, and personal responses to what I see and feel on a daily basis. More recently I have invested generous amounts of time into my landscape painting. I am surrounded by natural and man made beauty, which inherently presents itself in the tri-state area, and almost demands that I paint it.
Not everything is art. Art is not everything, but it comes close. Art is everywhere and all the time. Art makes you experience the beauty of the world, the people in it, and the places we call home. Art itself is so influential that it can tell stories, show feelings, and express passion or fury. Art exists in addition to language; expression of sensations and thoughts, revealing a way of thinking too subtle and delicate for words.
For me art requires love, honesty and perseverance. In return, it reveals some personal, non-analyzable, and creative untamed passion. For the public, art with its magnificent beauty, improves mood and health and builds better human beings and communities. It engages the intellect, softens the heart, strengthens the soul and frees the spirit.
If Your Interested In Purchasing Any Of My Work:
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Or
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There's certain beauty in imperfect things. What you did along in this posts it looks like a form of kintsugi in words. You make something that got broken (the idea the picture was perfect, but had some detail standing out) into something more beautiful by showing off its imperfections. I love these pictures. I don't see anything wrong in them, but I'm no photographer. So my opinions are just educated guesses.
This dandelion is a mirror to life itself. I could put it into a haikú:
Standing proud—
beauty is shadow
of flaws.
Maybe this just the OCD in the brain of an artist that wants to make everything perfect. I liked this post and the reflection upon the fact of taking this picture.
I had to look up what kintsugi meant. The seed puff was definitely not broken but maybe my interpretation of the imperfect picture, left my vision broken. That was a wonderful Haiku you created! I love it. Thanks for visiting my post and leaving such a feel good comment.
!ENGAGE 10
Good thing you liked it. I hope this helps widen your views upon "broken pictures". That dandelion certainly gave me a lot to think about.
ENGAGEtokens."A Rose, in an apple orchard, is a weed"
One of my favorite quotes, showing that it is all, no matter what, a
We all SEE things differently. When I look at the sky, I see a color I've been told all my life is Blue, but it is the same color you see? You've been told what you see is Blue, so we both agree the sky is blue, but Is It The Same Color? for both of us?
Until and unless we develop telepathy or a Vulcan Mind Meld, we shall never know that will we @bdmillergallery?
I LOVE the photo of the sun behind the dandelion. Well done my friend
Jerry, you always come up with some neat ways to get the truth out there! I agree about color. How are we ever to know? lol. And your right.. It's all the same in the end. LOVE the quote!
!ENGAGE 10
Thanks Brad, I do try to be inventive, and you (possibly) wouldn't BELIEVE the quotes I have saved in files on a PLETHORA of subjects.
I could share those files with you, if you are interested?
Collected over years of browsing Goodreads and other sources.
I would be happy to do so, making my work worthwhile
Wow.. great minds think alike! I also have a decent size collection of quotes, as you can see. Thanks for the offer, but I have them coming out of my ears. lol. Your very kind to offer though 😊
ENGAGEtokens.Beautiful poem and your reflections on this are so endearing to read. Our path is unique and God really knows why we are in a precise moment in a precise spot. We don't. I think we all have a dandelion pufff growing inside, it is that drop of innocence you see in some people, where the puff is still alive and kicking.
Absolutely, God only knows and I trust his plan. I like your reference to the dandelion puff and the drop of innocence alive and kicking.. so pure and poetic in itself. You should write something along those lines. It was a beautiful comment 😊
!ENGAGE 10
Thank you very much, I was touched by this post of yours, I will definetely write it down and come back to the idea
ENGAGEtokens.I think it is still a pretty fantastic shot!
Thanks Bozz! Appreciate the compliment 😁
Hugs from Cumaná capital of Sucre state in Venezuela. Successes in his publications and his curation work.
Thank you!! 😁
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