Why is the sky blue?

Today was mostly a cloudy, unadventurous, wintery day. But late in the afternoon, the sun came out and the sky looked orange. It wasn't a bloody orange like when the sky is on fire during those warm summer evenings, but it was rather a peachy, delicately coral-tinted sky. And as the sun was slowly setting, the shadows in the clouds turned a light purple. It was a majestic color show.
While I was delighting my sight in those beautiful hues, I wondered why the sky wasn't orange, or purple, or green, or any other color but blue. Why, out of all the colors of the rainbow, the sky had to be blue when the sun is shining upon the earth. I could go on a scientific explanation about why the sky is the color it is, and why there are clouds, and why the sun wakes us up in the morning and puts us to bed at night. But for once in my life, I decided that such a beautiful thing needed no further explanation, that it was okay to just sit back and enjoy the show. I won't worry about why the sky is blue, or why there are fish in the ocean and how four-legged creatures evolved from them. Today, I will breathe in the smell of winter roses and feel the cold in my bones. Today, I will forget about the things that trouble me, and I will just look at the sky and forget to ask why it is blue.

Be a human today

I'm sitting at my desk, pretending to be productive when all I can think about and feel is pain. I look as if I was highly engrossed reading the latest scientific article that came out in one of those high impact journals. In reality, I'm reading the news and I can't help staring into the blankness of the page that I'm typing on and let my heart ache.
Last night while laying in bed I was thinking about a blog post that would be about me, and about how my life is so much different than a year ago. But today is not about me. Today's post is dedicated to all of those who are suffering, all of those who are in pain, whether it is because they've lost a loved one or because of a terminal illness.
These simple words go out to those who are chained to their addictions, obsessions or traumas. These humble lines are dedicated to what makes us human and what brings us together as mankind. I wish I could say that I feel your pain, but only you, who is reading these lines, knows exactly what makes your heart ache. Only you know how unbearable your suffering is, whatever it may be.  I wish I could take your pain and transform it into something beautiful. But only you have the power to do that.

Today I wish for a world that is capable of going beyond its differences and unite in prayer for our troubles. Because no matter how many technological or scientific advances we make, if we lose our ability to feel and empathize, we've defeated the purpose of being on this planet.

Today, forget about your pain and put yourself in someone else's shoes.

Today, be a human.

Of princesses and real life

I'm at a coffee shop, listening to Christmas music while I grade my students' papers. The holiday sounds, the busy atmosphere of people coming in and out, the energizing smell of roasted coffee and the endless pile of work to do, for some strange reason, remind me of my undergraduate days. I remember spending countless hours in my school's library, studying, daydreaming, hiding from the masses, because, believe it or not, being surrounded by books makes me feel safe.

I grew up with my nose stuck in books. I loved to read. And I still do. But what I read now might be slightly different from what I used to read back in the day.

I loved fairy tales, just like any little girl would. I was fascinated with stories about foreign and beautiful places, where princes traveled across the seas to find their princesses. Or the stories where good always triumphs over evil. Where the poor suffers and one day teaches the rich a lesson. Yes, I also liked those kinds of stories. And I still do, perhaps because I think of my life itself as a fairy tale, as a work of art in the making. A story that will have a happy ending.

"Life itself is the most wonderful fairy tale." ~Hans Christian Andersen

 

 



 

 

Of sunsets and gratitude

Some days are bright and shiny. Some days are dull. But sometimes there are more gray days than sunshine. And many other times it seems like the sun will never come out again.
But there is always light, a light of hope that is stored deep in our hearts, a little voice that whispers "this is not the end yet." This is only the beginning.

And in our busy daily lives, we forget that the small things are the ones that count the most. We forget that a hot cup of tea in the morning can really warm our soul, a smile to a stranger can really brighten up their day, and a hug, or a word of kindness can really make a difference.

The world doesn't revolve around us. We are part of it and we are the forces that move it.

I often forget how blessed I am. I often take things for granted. And many other times I only allow myself to see the dark side of things.

Today I am grateful for sunsets, for the light that produces them and the eyes that are able to appreciate them. I am grateful for being able to capture this beautiful display of colors, that not everybody is lucky to see.

What are you grateful for today?

Home is where the heart is

On Sunday, it will be my first year anniversary living in a new city. A year ago, I could not even picture in my head the kind of trouble I was getting myself into. I feel like I have grown more in one year than I have in all my life. I have seen the ugly side of people, of things, of life. My naive, carefree self is gone, and I have had to learn many things the hard way. But even after all these harsh experiences that have tried to strip away my essence, a little spark in me remains, a flame that screams who I am to the world, a voice that has never pronounced my name more clear and more loudly. I am who I am thanks to all those tears, smiles, broken-hearted dreams, and sleepless nights. I am not afraid to be my unique self anymore, because everything I do has my personal signature in it. I am me, and I have never been happier to be me.

If you never say your name out loud to anyone, they can never ever call you by it.

 ~Regina Spektor

Late afternoon light

art:  [mass noun] the expression or application of human creative skill and imagination, typically in a visual form such as painting or sculpture, producing works to be appreciated primarily for their beauty or emotional power.

Sometimes I wonder whether what I do in my every day life is art or not. I say it depends on how you look at things. Being an extremely sensitive person, I pour a lot of my emotions into what I do. So in a way, what I do on a daily basis does have some sort of emotional power. It has a part of me.

My photography is important for me because it represents who I am and how I see the world. It has my essence and my name written all over it. And it captures an instant that is forever gone, yet I can relive it whenever I want. And preserving that part of life that is already gone is like knowing that that moment will always be with you, no matter what.

Art is everywhere. Even ordinary life can be artistic. It depends on how we decide to make it.

On comebacks (and tomatoes)

Hello, friends! After a long and unexcused absence, I am finally back. Grad school has definitely been keeping me busy, but I took the opportunity to snap some pictures in this gorgeous natural light setting. Tomatoes are in season and what a perfect subject for this mini photoshoot.

 My blog also has a new look, which I love, and I think it represents how I've changed through the years and this new facet that I've acquired in my photography journey. Enjoy!