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

Just Me, Eeyore and the Weeds....

Don't worry, I said weeds, not weed ;)

And I don't know what it is, but I am drawn to them.
Especially as they wither and fade in the fall and early winter.
Hmmm... Don't know what that says about me either...

But though it may be a bit random, it always does my soul good to wander amongst the weeds.
Nothing - well, few things that I can think of - seem more beautiful to me that weeds and wild flowers. I love that they show up where they're not supposed to and add their own flavor of something beautiful to wherever they land.
Maybe it's because I'm such a rule follower, with matching socks, a cleaned out purse and a need to be on time. Always. Such a people pleaser...always striving to keep the world about me happy with who I am. I have moments when I feel - and I'm not even kidding here - that I've been a wintry weed trying to win a prize as the most well cultivated spring rose my whole life. So...weeds and wildflowers touch me to the core.
And provide hours of photographic fun!

Truth be told...many of my favorite 'look-I-took-this-myself' photos have been of weeds.

Go figure.

It's all good, though. Cause Eeyore gets me. And he's my favorite.

"Weeds are flowers too,

once you get to know them."

A. A. Milne

Joining Tamar for

The Good. The Random. The Fun.