A BIRTHDAY REFLECTION

THOUGHTS ON THE MANY ASPECTS OF LIFE TO BE CELEBRATED

BY: MARISOL B.

BEAUTIFUL IMAGE VIA LEUIE

I woke up to a new day and to the celebration of another beautiful year. It has been a bit rainy; which is quite wonderful, as it makes for a great metaphor of life and growth.

I wanted to remain within warm and cozy covers, and as I laid reading kind birthday wishes from family and friends, I had an interior voice that invited me to spring out of bed and begin living the day.

As I allowed some light to enter the different rooms, I was suddenly reminded of a little song with the following lyrics:

A vivir, a vivir, a vivir; que la vida se te va, se te va, se te va; son tus días nada más, nada más, nada más; no los dejes escapar, escapar, escapar….

(Time to live, to live, to live, for life slips away, away, away; these days are only yours, only yours, only yours; do not let them escape, escape, escape…)

I was left with a feeling of great joy; for this is a little tune that I once heard my mother sing, when I was a young child. I quickly understood that she had subtly delivered her birthday wishes, and my heart kept the message within a place to be remembered.

We are what we celebrate, and I would like to celebrate the great gift of life and the opportunity to follow my individual purpose and mission.

After breakfast, I came across a little video of a generous lady who helped people in dire need. At first; compassion filled my mind and I had a couple of reflections, but I then allowed compassion to get into my heart and I was left with the clear reminder that there is much work to do. There is much beauty to be restored within this world and I must be more diligent in my mission.

I would like to invite you to join me, to be a little instrument for good; a light for others.

We are what we celebrate…… cheers to life!

PLEASE HAVE A SEAT...

A series of chairs; perfectly stacked or lined up, ready for people to gather; to seat and laugh, learn, eat, drink, work, rest, enjoy,  listen, observe, write, read, nap, or dream.

A place where one may patiently wait for news, for a lengthy download, or for a phrase to be spoken on the other side of the table. The perfect spot to write a novel, a theory, a business proposal.

A simple everyday object with four legs, holding the balance between doing and waiting...

A TALE OF FORGIVENESS

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PERSONAL EXPERIENCE: By Marisol B.

LETTERING: By Ian Barnard as part of his recent project Inkwell

“when you have a bad day; a really bad day, try and treat the world better than it treated you.”

— Patrick Stump

I write these lines after a few days of event styling. Despite my tired body and mind, I look back with joy; given the beautiful results of the project. It is; however, a particular experience within the design process that I feel inspired to share.

A few months ago, I was printing a few graphics and I requested help from one of the staff members at a printing company. My request pertained to a specific type of paper offered as an option in the past; however, a usually lovely lady insisted that this particular paper was not offered as an option unless I paid an unreasonable amount for it. What she mentioned seemed out of the ordinary - this was not my first time printing there, and my tired-self frowned upon it; instead of just asking for simple clarification.

I decided to go back at a later time when I had all necessary materials on hand; but as I left, I knew I had not been the most pleasant person to the lady assisting, so I felt a bit silly. I knew I would have to go back to the same establishment eventually, and my pride crunched my heart.

The following time I went back to the same printer, I was assisted by a very lovely staff member and I left with everything that was needed and more. I was grateful, but somehow, I still remembered my previous incident with the other employee.

This week, as I worked on yet another project, I noticed that the one person available to help, was the lady previously mentioned, and filled with pride, I went about my business; however, my heart knew there was a little corner that needed to persevere in love; especially in the small opportunities one is given.

As I began to make some paper cuts, I realized that I was short on time, so I inquired about help for a particular stack of items. She provided a very dry "yes", and proceeded to announce the price for each cut, to which I peacefully replied with a "yes please, that would be wonderful."

At that point, I went back to finish cutting the rest of my items and she began to work on the stack I provided. As I made progress, I began to reflect on whether it would be appropriate to clarify the confusion, we both had a few weeks ago, and let her know I was sorry if I sounded a bit stressed.

After completing my task, I approached the counter and she walked towards me with a worried look. She asked whether I had brought extra paper as she had made a mistake with the cuts and ruined the job. I calmly added that I did not have any extra paper, but would not mind using some of theirs to reprint the job. She showed me the options and one of them included the same type of paper that originated tension on my previous visit.

After I re-printed everything and she made the correct cuts, she apologized and added that she would not charge for them. She said it had been a long day and her eyes were a bit teary. I told her not to worry at all; that I understood perfectly well, as we have all experienced those kind of days.

As I left the place, I was deeply grateful for the opportunity to reconnect humanly with her. I was glad we were both given the opportunity for humility and rectification.

What a great peace is felt when we practice compassion towards one another; regardless of our own little battles and sense of urgency.

A simple lesson of forgiveness within ordinary events of life...

THE BEAUTY OF FALLING DOWN

by Marisol B.

Not long ago, I was about to leave the parking lot of a lovely store. As I entered my vehicle; I witnessed a gentleman walking along the sidewalk almost fall. A sense of embarrassment followed, and I inevitably began to ponder about human shame after a fall.

I later came across this little video, where models who elegantly walk in high heels, suddenly find themselves out of balance. While some of the falls are actually a bit funny, what caught my attention were the various reactions for each occurrence, and I continued to ponder about our own ability to accept falls and failure gracefully; without allowing our ego to take over.

“ In the process, we are given the great opportunity to grow in humility and remember our identity and values despite it all.”

Shame and embarrassment are very human factors that play between the pressure-filled areas of failure and success. Both of these require a realistic sense of identity and self knowledge, in order to keep us from a distorted self perception.

Interestingly, the research that Brené Brown, Ph.D. has conducted; leads to the differentiation of the two. In fact, she distinguishes shame from instances of guilt, embarrassment, and humiliation. Shame implies I am bad, the others show I did something wrong, someone said/did something wrong, or something wrong happened to me. Shame generates negative self-talk and hides true worth and dignity. It ignores the true root of the circumstance; however painful this may seem at the moment.

We set high standards, which entail risk; one of possibly falling, or losing our firmest step. In the process, we are given the great opportunity to grow in humility and remember our identity and values despite it all. We are given the opportunity to grow taller than the highest stiletto shoes. We gain great stature, reminded by our own humanity.

This evening I witnessed the same exact scene from yet another man; as I was pulling out of a parking lot. As he lost his balance, we made eye contact, and I chose to give him a quick and reassuring smile; one that would swiftly remind him of his humble; yet dignified place within the force of gravity...

SHINING BEAUTY INTO WHAT MANY FEAR

Every beautiful human person holds great purpose, but sometimes we allow fear to take over. Sometimes we listen too much to the outward noise and forget to look deep within; in order to fully understand, that every single one of us holds great purpose and dignity.

A pregnant mother was genuinely concerned, after finding out that her unborn child appeared to have a genetic disorder. She decided to write a letter to a national Down Syndrome Organization; asking for hope and guidance. The response she received, shines much light into an uncertain situation, and a creative agency was able to bring this story to life in a very beautiful way, with the below ad titled: DEAR FUTURE MOM.

CREDITS
Client: CoorDown
Agency: Saatchi & Saatchi Italy
Executive Creative Director: Agostino Toscana
Creative Directors: Luca Lorenzini, Luca Pannese
Art Director: Luca Pannese
Copywriter: Luca Lorenzini
Director: Luca Lucini
Production Company: The Family Film
Agency Producer: Sabrina Sanfratello
Head of TV: Raffaella Scarpetti
Original Music: Alessandro Cristofori, Diego Perugini for Stabbiolo Music
Postproduction: XChanges Vfx
Color Grading: Band
Audio Postproduction: Top Digital; Cat Sound International
Voiceover: Pasquale Anselmo

A BEAUTIFUL LOOK INTO WHAT IS INFINITE

Not long ago; at a little Italian caffè, I met Fillipo. He quickly introduced us to his profound writings, and we could not help but to share them within this very space...

VASTNESS

~by Fillipo E.

What are we searching for, if not for vastness?
For the unending promise of infinity.
To remove ourselves from the confines of freedom and to become it.
We are the stars.
A multitude of possibility. The infinitude of imagination.
To be directed is to be limited.
A poem previously written. A concerto already performed.
Afraid of what? Of whom? Fear is not a limitation, but a road mark.
We are afraid of the void.
Of the empty canvas crying for imagery.
Of the blank page longing for language.
Of the silent instrument desiring manipulation.
Oh, how we sell ourselves short of infinity.
How we fall victim to confinement, you and I.
Feet before the cliff.
Before the vastness.

A BEAUTIFUL JOURNEY

by Marisol B.

I find myself a day away from a forty-day journey where I get to detach from little comforts and dive deeper into the fact that we are made of dust; yet created for eternity.

During this little journey, I will be giving up sugar (great opportunity to detox), cutting social media time and reading more materials printed on real paper, as opposed to a brightly lit screen. Nonetheless; there is one more thing that I plan to do and it fills my heart with joy and anticipation.

photo by Berta via

It all begins with a beautiful person; my beloved maternal grandmother, who lives abroad. We have shared many conversations; some of which have occurred in pretend Chinese (I would mimic Mandarin sounds and my grandma would gladly answer in the same manner), lately though; her conversations are short and distraught. A couple of years ago she began to exhibit neurological changes that are taking a toll on her memory and the ability to thread a conversation or relate certain facts.

Before this, she was alert, well-read, and independent. She used to drive around the city and teach a yoga class during the morning; nowadays, she is to stay home for most of the time under special care. This really breaks my heart and that is why I would like to do something special for her.

I am planning on calling her every morning for the next forty days and asking her questions that enable her to focus on the beauty around her. During my last conversation, I realized that it was exhausting for her to keep up with a chat about life or family members; so I asked her whether it was sunny that day and inquired about her beautiful garden.

If you would like to follow along, I invite you to read the conversation within the comments section of this story. I am looking forward to making her days brighter and filled with joy.

If you would like to do something similar for someone else, please post an image or story with the hashtag #GivingBeauty or simply the usual hashtag #FindBeauty

A YEAR OF PULCHRITUDE

by Marisol B.

I just finished reading my dear friend Anna's post on simplicity and authenticity for 2014. Her words encouraged me to share my own thoughts and aspirations for MMXIV.

For a few months now, the word pulchritude has come to mind. Its pure definition is beauty; great physical beauty and appeal, and I have been reflecting on how I wish to live up to that standard within my own life, in the simplest and most immediate details.

In my journey for sharing beauty and investing time in the purpose behind beautyfound, I have forgotten to take time for the little places where pulchritude is necessary. Whether it is a closet, or a cabinet; not apparent to the average guest, I am reminded of the importance of maintaining a sense of order and discipline in the most intimate of places.

The above includes my own soul, as every thought, word and action stem from the beauty beneath.

I would like to spend less time in vanities and more time in real and meaningful beauty.

A flower does not concern itself with useless matters. It only concerns itself with being a flower, to the extent of its own aesthetic and origin. Humans on the other hand, lose or regain dignity and beauty in the measure they grow or decrease in virtue.

We are each made more human, with each opportunity for growth.

I also love Anna's thoughts on cutting excess. On the first day of the year, I decided to reorganize a bathroom cabinet and found many products that were unnecessary and underused. I would like to maintain a realistic sense of what is truly needed. Lara Casey shared an excerpt of the book Margin, by Richard Swenson, which helped reflect even further:

"Everything we own, owns us. We must maintain it, paint it, play with it, build space in our house to put it, and then work to pay it off. Perhaps if we had fewer things, we might have more time....

Recognize unnecessary possessions for what they are: stealers of divine time. At the beginning of every day, we are given assignments that have eternal significance _ to serve, to love, to obey, to pray. Instead, we squander much of this time on things that soon will leave us forever."

I will make 2014 count, as I strive to live up to a standard of beauty that brings forth love, compassion, and service as a result. I want to answer the subtle and loud ways in which I am called to grow more beautiful and true to my mission and purpose.

THE BEAUTY OF WHAT REMAINS

"To pay tribute to his late wife, a father and his young daughter posed for a series of photos that reflect on their lives without her." These were the words that preceded beautiful and moving images that left me thinking of the love and beauty that remains when a loved one is deceased.

Image: Melanie Tracy Pace, Loft3 Photography

The images portray a combination of love and suffering; and more importantly, they allow us to remember and understand the importance of being present to one another.

This wife and mother's battle with lung cancer did not leave a void. The pictures might not portray her face any longer, but she is nonetheless present through the love and connection that this father and daughter hold so dearly.

We are called to recognize the presence of love in each other at every moment and stage in life. When my own mother passed in a tragic and sudden accident, I found the words that would allow me to know this lesson deep within my own heart. The words read:

"We don't own our cars, our homes, our loved ones, our bodies, our words, our beliefs. All of these things were loaned to us for a time and all of these things can be changed, lost, taken away. So what we truly own is our presence. We choose whether or not we are present to ourselves, to each other and to God."

How beautiful to learn of such profound love by the gaze of a father and daughter, who are present to each other as the days unfold.§

Image: Melanie Tracy Pace, Loft3 Photography

Image: Melanie Tracy Pace, Loft3 Photography

LIVING IN THE PRESENT MOMENT

This beautiful video tells a story of connection, community and the ability to be present each day.

Narrated by Yan, a farmer and shepherd in Burgundy, France; we are transported to a place where life is pondered upon within the ordinary everyday tasks.

SHHHHH, BE VERY QUIET...

THE BEAUTIFUL JOB OF MOTHERHOOD

Director Matt Bieler was able to capture beautifully, the selfless love that is required from a mother on a daily basis. Through his film titled, 3 Queens; the everyday lives of three different stay at home moms in three different regions of the country, tell a beautiful story.

LET THE RAIN FALL

A REFLECTION ON HOW INCONVENIENCE TRUMPS OUR ABILITY TO SEE BEAUTY

As I stared out the window during a very rainy morning, I could not help but notice the beauty of water falling over trees, the reflection of colors, shapes and textures on the pavement and gratefulness to know that H2O was abundant.

Before I get too melancholic though, I have to admit that I also had the dreadful thought of having to go out under such conditions. From the fact that my feet would be cold and humid (when not wearing rain boots), to the thought of slippery roads filled with distracted drivers and other petty inconveniences revolving around rain.

As I moved on to prepare breakfast, I could not help but wonder why such a contrast on a very simple and natural phenomenon. Why couldn't I just focus on the first thoughts/scene? 

I then figured that we may fall into the trap of failing to see beauty during instances when we find ourselves inconvenienced. Think about someone who has the perfect plan laid out and is suddenly interrupted. The instinctive reaction would be one of disappointment, horror, or disgust. The noble reaction is to be able to perceive how the new circumstances portray beauty.

It is interesting too; how sometimes, even as we might be warned by meteorologists about weather conditions; giving enough time to plan and devise alternate solutions, we still find ourselves unable to accept the change of scenario.

 Acceptance then, might be one of the greatest keys. Embracing any obstacle or circumstance and turning it into an opportunity for beauty.

Let go and allow yourself the opportunity to appreciate more. There is much peace to be found within this little dwelling.

LABOUR + WAIT

While technology holds a place of beauty and efficiency, it is always lovely to find a perfect balance with objects made by the hands of expert craftsmen. A recent find proves this to be the case.

Located in the heart of east London's market district, LABOUR AND WAIT  gets its name from the last line of Henry Wadsworth Longfellow's poem 'A Psalm of Life':

Let us, then, be up and doing,

With a heart for any fate;

Still achieving, still pursuing,

Learn to labour and to wait.

Offering timeless and functional products for everyday life, this little shop reminds us of the love that may and must be placed even within small and mundane tasks.