Tuesday, November 10, 2015

Beautiful


The stage was set. Just one grand piano stood silhouetted against a glowing blue back drop. The actress, in the role of Carole King, took the bench and began to play. It took just a few notes, and the whole theatre knew the melody. She played for a bit, then turned to the audience and said,

"Life sometimes goes the way you want,
sometimes it doesn't.
And sometimes, when it doesn't,
you find something beautiful."


For the next two hours, we were invited into the world of the young singer-songwriter. We learned of her ups and downs ~ of her insecurities and early struggles. We watched her give birth to her music. Music that is, to me, so very beloved. Part of the very fabric of my life. I learned so much about her and was brought back to those earliest years of my life...through sight, sound and dizzying emotion.


At the very end of the show, we see Carole about to take the stage at Carnegie Hall for the first time. And joy abounds as she performs "Beautiful!" There was so much joy in the theatre last week when I saw the play, and, I can only imagine, so much joy as she sang this for the first time in Carnegie Hall over four decades ago. 
Timeless. Inspirational. Personal. Full of light and determination. 

Here's where I catch myself. I laugh at myself. I can spend hours with the weeds, looking beyond their scruffy exterior and focusing {literally} on all their beauty. Like these, my favorite 'puff balls.' Each no larger than my thumbnail. As each plumed seed loosens from the plant and sets sail on the autumn breeze, a tiny, sunflower-like treat is exposed. I see so much! I return and return with my camera because the more I focus, the more I see the layers of 'beautiful.' When I hear Ms. King's lyrics, I'm reminded that I can bless myself with that same gift I seem to bestow effortlessly on these simple weeds. Or, truth be told, on just about everyone and everything except myself! 

It's my choice. To wake up each day, put a smile on my face, and give away as much love as I can.
After all, aren't we truly as beautiful as we feel?



"You've got to get up every morning
With a smile on your face
And show the world all the love in your heart
Then people gonna treat you better
You're gonna find, yes you will
That you're beautiful
You're beautiful
You're beautiful as you feel"
Carole King




Joining Kathy for
Song-ography
And linking up with
Communal Global

6 comments:

  1. your images are breathtaking.....your words drew me perhaps more than the carole king lyrics!!

    "Or, truth be told, on just about everyone and everything except myself" these words are so difficult for me to read, when will you see just how beautiful you are??

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  2. This was so gorgeously written. So true for so many of us.
    I also SO want to see the show, now!

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  3. I love these images...I'm a weed lover too. "Tapestry" was one of my favorite ( and first) albums!

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  4. As if I didn't want to see this show ALREADY...after reading this there is NO WAY my patience will wait til March when it comes to Philly! Haha.

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