Beauty Can't Be Owned

It lay shining in the sun, lightly tossed by an occasional wave....royal blue in hue. Until recently, I was in the habit of collecting beautiful stones and shells. Whenever I went to river banks or the sea shore, any such natural object which had a rare color, extraordinary shine, or a natural delicately polished texture would immediately find its way into my bag to be saved as a garniture. I used to think that such a beautiful thing needs to be owned... it should not lie around in this sandy slovenly surrounding, it would seem so much more valuable when positioned on the center piece of the living room; it would be the cynosure of all eyes.

But lately I realized that it was not a good idea to take away something so beautiful from where it was found one with nature. The same stone or shell would never seem so shiny in indoor lighting, nor would its color stand out like it did amidst the very slovenly sand that I thought was not a good backdrop for such a beauty. Just teaches me an important lesson..things are really beautiful when they are in their own natural self and surrounding. Take them way and they lose their charm.

The same goes for people. If you like them as they are, they are at their best. If you think that you should forge a bond with them and try to change them in a certain way that you think is better, maybe you are trying to take the shell away from the sand and put it on the center piece. Beware, it will lose all its beauty. Savor its beauty where it lies free and undisturbed in the sand, as it is.

So I did exactly that... captured its' beauty in my camera to bring home and look at, but walked away leaving it undisturbed. And because I see it in the picture lying on the sand under the tropical sun, it looks just as beautiful every time. If it were here, ornate on a red velvet cloth, dimly lit by indoor "classy" sconces, it would eventually lose all its hue and shine.

"If you are happy, let it be. Don't expect things to become ideal. Don't over-analyze your relationships. A growing relationship can only be nurtured by genuineness, not possessiveness."~Leo F.Buscaglia

Neon Glow

Photo Courtesy: Apoorva Sharma

I have always enjoyed nature in its bare form. I love the sea, and have made many trips to beaches. I have been lucky that I stay in southern California close to many beautiful beaches. But recently a trip to New York changed my perspective of an enjoyable vacation. The beauty of the city left me awestruck.

Walking among skyscrapers towering above the streets like endless spires puncturing the skyline, I had very motivating thoughts about the human ability to thrive. It was a strange feeling as I was walking with friends from childhood, each having spent most of his/her childhood and adolescence in very small conservative towns in India. After so many years we were together in the greatest city in USA, half way around the world from our hometown. Yet in the scintillating night lights of the city we were as much at home in this cosmopolitan bustling environment as we used to be playing together in a small isolated town consisting of quaint little neighborhoods. What touched me most was the warmth in the way my friends hosted me after so many years.

It added to the hues of neon that adorned the city. She looks like a princess at night. The closest experience of such a thriving and lively city has been Mumbai in India. There is little space to spare, yet room for everyone. Enjoyment is expensive here, but priceless when savored with good company. Given an opportunity, I sure would go back and spend time in the New York again.

"The city's got the right name - New York. Nothing ever gets old around here."
-Ralph Stephenson.