Charm Amidst Chaos

Life can be messy and complicated, much like these tree branches and leaves growing every which way. So many plans, responsibilities, and relationships to juggle! Once in a while though, if we pause and look carefully, we may notice a certain charm amidst the chaos. Gazing up at the sky helps me to recenter. Yesterday, these fresh leaves aglow with sunlight, warmed my spirits. I hope they do the same for you.

Beauty Within Contrast

I have always been drawn to the magical interplay of light and shadows and contrasting colors. So when I wandered upon these cheerful flowers in front of a dark forest background, several thoughts came to mind:

I reflected on the awe-inspiring and heart-touching qualities of hope and resiliency amidst struggle and adversity.

I also recalled an excerpt from an ancient wisdom text which describes the unique splendor of the Supreme Person's activities when performed against the backdrop of this dark world: “Just as a lamp does not seem to shine as brightly in sunlight as it does in the shade, or as a diamond does not seem as brilliant on a silver platter as it does on a plate of blue glass, the Lord's pastimes do not seem as amazing in the spiritual abode as they do within the material realm.”

And finally, here is a poetic depiction of Krishna, who is described as having the hue of a dark monsoon cloud: "His yellow garments and garlands of flowers made it appear as if a dark cloud were surrounded simultaneously by sun, moon, lightning and rainbows." Talk about an epic contrast!

Quotes are from Srimad Bhagavatam 10.14.37 and 1.11.27 respectively.

An Ode to My Voice

Several months ago, I had the honor of participating in an annual spoken word and poetry event. My stomach was aflutter due to the vulnerable nature of my piece, yet I found the process of sharing deeply cathartic.

I dedicate these words to anyone who has struggled to find their voice or muster up the courage to express themselves. I know well the pain of stories untold, words unspoken, questions unasked, all for the sake of keeping everyone else comfortable and avoiding rejection.

Bottling up our spirit for years or even decades feeds loneliness, shame, and resentment, among other emotions. When we don't feel safe, words that yearn to come forth are instead buried deep within the tissues of the body and may later reemerge as physical illness.

Behind every voice is a unique story. Bit by bit I'm sharing mine. Thank you for receiving me with empathy.