Carol A. Hand
Photos of a fascinating sunset this spring
made me wonder how many sunsets I’ve missed
during the 26,374 days I have lived
*
*
I don’t remember how many times
I failed to notice which direction was west
in the scores of places I’ve temporarily called home
*
*
The busyness of striving and surviving
as we travel down winding paths
sometimes keeps us too preoccupied to notice
*
*
Our vision clouded by so many things
that we believe are more important
than the ever-present beauty around us
*
*
Even ordinary scenes become extraordinary
when seen through the lenses of presence
surrounded by those whom we love
*
*
Perhaps noticing is especially important
when the clouds roll in promising another chilly rainy night
after the longest coldest winter I remember
*
*
At a time when the world already feels so dark
I am grateful for the chance to witness and remember
the beacon of momentary but ever-returning light
Note:
These are not the best of photos. They were taken in poor light with an iphone through dusty windows in a moving vehicle. 🙂 Nonetheless, I’m sharing them in hopes they will remind others to find moments to appreciate the beauty and wonder of seemingly ordinary places.
Carol, there is something metaphorical about the caveats in your comment about the pictures. Many days, I feel as if we are, indeed looking through windows which are not as clear as we would like them to be. I appreciate your perspective on the sunsets – experienced and missed. 💕
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Ah, Carrie, such powerful insights! Thank you so much for sharing your wisdom and kindness. ❤
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A beautiful reminder to seize the moments, Carol… Thank you! ❤
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Thank you for your kind words, Bette, and for your always thoughtful comments. ❤
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Always a pleasure to read and share, my friend. ❤ Blessings…
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Blessings to you, too, dear Bette. ❤
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I posted about glorious skies tonight, too! 🙂 I am always confused why so few around me are not more fascinated daily!
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Thank you so much for sharing your love of the sky and your important insights, Laura Denise. ❤
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Sunset’s truly are beautiful, even if I’m pretty sure they are partly the result of pollution!
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Ah, yes, Teensy Writer, these days we can’t escape the interplay of nature’s beauty with the increasingly negative footprint of humanity’s thoughtless behaviors. Thank you for sharing your important insights. ❤
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How delightful, spring/summer seems to bring such colour, yes the ordinary is extraordinary 🙂
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Thank you so much for sharing your kind words and insights, Paul.
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My pleasure Carol.
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❤
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Such a beautiful panaroma of pictures, Carol and yes Sunsets have their own magic to tell.
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Thank you so much for your kind words, Kamal, and for sharing your lovely insights. ❤
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Welcome Carol.
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The pictures are beautiful, Carol, the words that accompany them profound. Thank you for sharing them…
Judging from the perspective, I’m guessing you were in the passenger seat, rather than driving? 😉
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Ah, Lisa, thank you for your kind words and for making me laugh. I wondered if anyone would worry about a driver snapping pictures in city traffic and down winding roads. I am sure some do so. 🙂 As I driver, I don’t even answer my phone. My hands grip the wheel tightly as I try to see 360 degrees at the same time, unless, of course, I zone out on longer highway trips. 🙂
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I figured as much, but I had to ask. I’m nosy that way, especially when I care about people. 😁❤️
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❤
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We are fortunate to have some days of brilliant sunsets casting golden lights and shadows into our home. And here in rural Alaska is no pollution. That special silence at dusk and sunset is comforting too.
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Thank you so much for sharing your observations and reflections, Skywalker. Sending my best wishes to you. ❤
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beautifully expressed views
of sunsets thru passenger’s eye’s. Carol!
imagining many other ways
sunsets have been experienced
thru the heart of an intuitive motorist 🙂
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Thank you so much for your lovely comments and for sharing your ponderings about sunsets, David. ❤
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Nothing is ordinary when we take the time to truly notice our world. Thank you for the poetic contemplation.
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Thank you so much for your thoughtful comments, Kamal. ❤
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❤ all the photos! Duluth is a truly photogenic place!
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Thank you so much for your kindness, dear friend. How I wish I had time to explore more of Duluth’s amazing sights!
Sending my best wishes. ❤
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We miss so much because we don’t realise how important things like sunsets are until we’ve missed too many of them!
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Ah, so true, Andrea. Thank you so much for sharing such important insights. ❤
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Very fine post and photographs. You have captured the dark clouds in the sky above the setting sun. Sometimes the sun goes down in a diamond flash, other times the murk closes in. I find those greys hold beauty. About 20 years ago I was injured and couldn’t work. I watched the sun go down in November everyday for about two weeks. It was an amazing gift. I am yet to watch the sun go down that many days in a row. Take care.
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Thank you so much for your kind words, Bob, and for sharing your powerful experience and observations about sunsets. Sending my best wishes, dear friend. ❤
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