Tag Archive | beauty

A thousand reflections

May4

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(meee at work last night <3)

“The sun shines down, and its image reflects in a thousand different pots filled with water. The reflections are many, but they are each reflecting the same sun. Similarly, when we come to know who we truly are, we will see ourselves in all people.” ~Ammachi

❤ 😀

After putting this heartwarming quote here with this mirrored effect on a photo of me, I started to truly wonder how mirrors and reflections work. I looked it up and can only mostly find info on how mirrors themselves work. But I’m sure it’s not all about the mirror, our eyes and the way they operate must play a part as well. The cones, rods, retinas, the lens in them, the pupil… I want to know how it all works together but it’s hard to find much information on it.
I was wracking my brain trying to understand then my brain started philosophizing and my intention to post a sweet, simple universal love post got diverted.

Here are some fun facts about mirrors:

” Basically, anything with a smooth surface that reflects almost all of the light that hits it — with only very little light absorbed or scattered — can be a mirror. The key factor is a smooth surface, because rough surfaces scatter light instead of reflecting it.

When photons — rays of light — coming from an object (your smiling face, for example) strike the smooth surface of a mirror, they bounce back at the same angle. Your eyes see these reflected photons as a mirror image. The mirror image is reversed, which you can easily see if you stand in front of a mirror with a shirt with words on it. The words on the shirt appear backwards in the mirror.

Of course, not all smooth surfaces act as mirrors. If a smooth surface absorbs the photons, they can’t bounce back and there will be no reflection.

Although calm, dark water has been used as a mirror since the beginning of time, people started making mirrors thousands of years ago. The first mirrors were likely polished stones, such as obsidian (a type of volcanic glass). Large pieces of polished metal, such as brass, were also used as mirrors, although these were very expensive.”

source:
http://wonderopolis.org/wonder/how-do-mirrors-work/

Also there’s a rare condition or phenomenon called Mirrored self-misidentification that can result as a symptom of dementia but also can show up in young people without dementia for whatever reason, I don’t know.

A person afflicted with this cannot recognize her/his own self in a mirror. The person thinks the reflection isn’t a reflection at all but a whole other person.

And because our brains are designed to make sense of things, the person makes up a story for who the person in the mirror is.

I read about a man who came down with this condition (maybe after an injury?) and when he looked into a mirror, he did not know it was a mirror and thought it was a window into an apartment next door and that his reflection was his neighbor and they became good friends.

It must be heartbreaking to realize the truth. It’s like losing a friend. Delusions and hallucinations can be so real.

This is not a hallucination and the people with it are healthy in every other way. They can function like anyone else, go to work, hold intelligent conversations, it’s just something wrong in that part of the brain. They can identify the reflections of other people, just not their own.

So here is a sweet reminder to look for ourself in each other and look for others in ourself. Oneness.

And some interesting facts.

I love reflections & shadows. They are some of my favorite things to take pictures of. ❤

😀

Much love & light,

xoxo Kim

As long as the sky exists…

May2

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“As long as the sky exists and as long as there are sentient beings, may I remain to help relieve them of all their pain.”

One of the best things about Spring & Summer is the life that blossoms and appears all around. Life in the form of sentient beings like insects and dogs and people and other life forms, plants, flowers, trees…<3

Everything is so beautiful.

I saw this little kritter walking home today, outside of a bar on the street where I live. S/he can't or won't fly but can walk. S/he walked right onto my hand when I put it on the ground to pick her up.

S/he was walking towards the traffic and was also in danger of being stepped on by someone walking. I don't always stare at the ground when I'm walking but I look all around and happened to see this beauty. Cute little bumblebee! ❤ 😀

I put her/him in my backyard but not before losing her in my house! lol Luckily I found her again and got her safely outside.

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She found this flower and got onto it then walked off again. It’s so cute!

😀

What a beautiful day! I’m off to work soon! 😀 ❤ ❤

Much love & light to you, always,

xoxo Kim

April Sunrise

Apr29

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I wrote this yesterday and it wouldn’t go through for some reason so here it is today!

“There’s a sunrise and a sunset every single day, and they’re absolutely free. Don’t miss so many of them.” ~Jo Walton

Today I fulfilled my aspiration to get at least one photo of an April sunrise. I’m usually not awake that early. But in January after waking early (not intentionally) and seeing the sun rising, I decided to make it a point to awaken early at least one day each month this year and watch the sun rise and get some pictures! I have achieved my goal up til now!

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It’s so beautiful to watch the sun rising so early in the morning. It’s absolutely magical and breathtaking. 
It energizes me and inspires me. Not to do anything specifically but just instills in me a general sense of deep inspiration.  

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This one has an effect to make the pink stand out more.

It was a dramatic sunrise. It was startling but in a good way. I was all tired and groggy at first and the neon pink was shocking. This picture doesn’t show it as bright as it was. On this part of the sky, there was only a hint of pink but it was still brighter than it looks here.

“Rainy days should be spent at home with a cup of tea and a good book.” ~Bill Watterson

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I did stay home today and drank hot tea while reading a great fiction mystery book in my warm pj’s! But I also went out in the rain, took pics, and got iced coffee and did some shopping with my sister.

❤

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Today is very rainy and very cold here in Philadelphia and can only be described as Perfect.  The trees are vibrant green, the sky was gray all day, now black because it's night.  

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"After every storm, there is a rainbow. If you have eyes, you will find it. If you have wisdom, you will create it. If you have love for yourself and others, you won’t need it." ~Shannon L. Alder

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"You can dance in the storm. Don't wait for the rain to be over before because it might take too long. You can can do it now. Wherever you are, right now, you can start, right now; this very moment." ~Israelmore Ayivor

Oh, yes! It's never too late as long as we're living. Let's "bloom where we're planted."
Work with what we have. Change what can be changed if we feel the desire and use what cannot to our advantage. Have a problem that can't be fixed? Accept it and use it for the better. Let it strengthen us, deepen our wisdom & empathy, inspire us to reach out to others and show understanding. Let's not wait for that "perfect" beginning or circumstances.
Right Now is perfect just as it is. 

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This is a pic I took of the sunrise and I turned it black & white but kept the pink the same. My camera has an option for that. 

Here are some more pics I got today. I was in the mood for b&w photos today. 

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This pic I took yesterday. I wasn't trying to capture the birds; I did not even see them at first! I was trying to get the old looking building on the side!

But when I saw the birds I was thrilled. They flew away so quickly I couldn't get any more pics. So I zoomed in and cropped this one to show them better.

😀

I hope your day or night  is absolutely beautiful! 
Hugs & love to you!  ❤

Xoxo Kim 

Hearts entwined <3

Apr28

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” Her moral obligation
to keep our hearts entwined.
Her preeminent love,
smelling like life,
in a good way,
familiar like an ancient woodcut,
a private postcard in the midst of a crowd,
in an old T-shirt to soak up the memories,
committed to recycling life.
repairing the nucleus.” ~
Brian D’Ambrosio ❤

😀

Beautiful quote I recently discovered about beauty!

xoxo Kim

Dear Future Me <3

Apr27

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Since this is a post to me by me here is a pic of me! 😀

I have been nominated by the lovely Sonali at 

Howling With the Wolf:

https://howlingwiththewolf.wordpress.com/about/

To write a letter to me one year into the future! 

https://howlingwiththewolf.wordpress.com/2016/04/08/dear-future-me/

Please check out her blog! She is a very sweet girl and an amazing writer with a passionate spirit.

I love when I’m nominated for things like this! (even though it sometimes takes me forever to get around to posting it! :-)) 

It kind of doesn’t really make sense to me to provide wisdom to my future self because my future self will (hopefully) be just as wise, and hopefully even wiser than my current self. Lol I realize that’s one of the blessings of getting older, we have all the wisdom we previously have and even more realized. 

So I will just remind myself in the future to cherish the memories of all the beauty I have encountered previously, to intentionally recall and often record simple but profound moments I have experienced. Many moments are easy to forget even if they are beautiful, inspiring, amazing. The simple moments that aren’t part of a holiday or vacation or other socially important event. Just everyday, simple occasions. 

I want to remind my future self to savor each cool breeze upon my skin in the Summers, cherish the warmth of cozy pj’s in Winter and the heat that surges through me while holding a steaming hot cup of cocoa or tea, I want to encourage me in the future to keep on taking photos of all the colorful beauty in Fall & Spring but remember to also live in the moment and truly feel the beauty, not just try to capture it in photos. It’s more important to experience. 

I encourage me to write down simple but profound occasions on ordinary days to always look back on and remember. 

Like the things I mention here: 

https://inspirationalgem.wordpress.com/2015/10/05/best-days-3/

https://inspirationalgem.wordpress.com/2015/03/17/the-simple-unidentified-moments-3/

reading a thrilling novel, drinking hot tea, basking in the beauty of the rain…

I want to inspire myself to keep letting go of old pain and creating more and more space for new beauty. 

I think the most important thing is to “remind” my future self to “live to the fullest” as the old cliche goes, making the most of each moment while holding onto all the pleasant memories and letting the not so pleasant ones inspire me to evolve and learn. In two, three, four, and more decades(i guess I’m planning to live a long while! Lol), I want to be able to think back to now and still remember some of the simple, beautiful moments I now experience. 

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I also want to remind myself that Life Is Beautiful! 

I often feel that way but when I get into severe depressed moods, I sometimes tend to forget it. And one thing that helps me keep hope alive is to remember that I once felt that way, that life is simply beautiful, and so have it in me to feel that way again.  

Sometimes the person who can inspire us the most is our own self! It’s great to be inspired by others, to be lifted and carried by their wisdom but sometimes it’s even greater to allow our own wisdom to inspire us. Always remember that if you once felt happy, alive, beautiful, peaceful, calm, even if only for a brief occasion, you CAN feel that way again. And even if you have never felt happy, you are alive and it’s never too late, there’s always hope as long as we are living and conscious or have the ability to be conscious if we aren’t currently.  

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My cover photo on Facebook says “Life is beautiful.” It’s the only cover photo I ever had and I intend to keep it that way. It’s true, life is beautiful. And when I seem to forget that, I look at my own cover photo (it’s not actually mine but one I found online) and remember that I felt that way when I set that photo as my cover photo and I am inspired to keep on living and loving. ❤

So, future self (and everyone else), always remember life is hope. If you felt it once, you can feel it again!  

And one last thing, Future Self, always remember to surrender to universal love, all encompassing love, love for everyone and everything, all sentient beings, life itself, the whole uni-verse…keep going, keep loving, always & forever!!

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❤
 
I'm thankful to  be nominated for this and one reason is that it reminds me to better keep up with my one word journal. I have been doing great with my one word challenge, seeking and finding beauty and inspiration everywhere, sharing it with others, posting on the blog things that have to do with beauty…but I haven't been keeping up as much as I planned with the journal I have. But it's never too late to begin again! And this post is a great reminder! 

Here is my post on the one word challenge:

https://inspirationalgem.wordpress.com/2016/01/20/one-word/

“This is the time to remember
Cause it will not last forever
These are the days
To hold on to
Cause we won’t
Although we’ll want to
This is the time
But the time is gonna change”

These Are the Times to Remember – Billy Joel – mobile

These Are the Times – desktop

❤

Thank you, Sonali!

I'm supposed to nominate a few people but instead I would like to just invite anyone reading this to give it a try! 😀

Much love & light to you always,

❤

Xoxo Kim 

Best advice for dealing with facial wrinkles

Apr21

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“stop standing so close to the mirror then you won’t see them!” 

lolz! ;-D

Yup!  

(sorry if you clicked open my post hoping to find some magic wrinkle solution….i have  nothing of that sort!) 😉

 I saw this recently and it’s really funny but also conveys a certain wisdom. 

It trivializes having wrinkles! But wrinkles ARE trivial! Lol

Like who cares?! 

And seriously though, wrinkles don’t hurt or anything, at least not physically, so out of sight, out of mind, right?!

😀 

Wrinkles are just part of aging and living is a good thing so having wrinkles is just a reminder of our blessing of life.

Many people are denied the gift of life. Sickness, accidents, homicide, heart attacks, ruptured brain aneurysms…all claim the lives of way too many each day… those people would have probably taken wrinkles any day over the fate they suffered. 

But we don’t have that choice. 

We can just have gratitude for what we have while we still have it. And forget what we cannot control.  

Also, I have a non life threatening and currently uncurable/mostly untreatable facial pain disorder, usually the pain is mild and not a problem but it flares up to seemingly unbearable levels sometimes, so wrinkles are the least of my concern! 

I’ll take the facial wrinkles over the facial pain any day! When we have a serious illness or pain, it puts things into a certain kind of perspective and we often come to see the triviality of things that once seemed important or are considered serious by many. 

My pain is near constant but only the mild kind. The moderate and severe and the unbearably severe are not constant and usually not long lasting. So the thing is, when the headache flares up to unbearable levels, I see how trivial everything truly is. Then I promise myself that when the pain lessens I will for sure never ever again complain about anything trivial. I’m not much of a complainer anyway but can’t honestly say I never complain or take things too seriously. 

But I always go back to getting used to not being in severe physical pain and forget my promise. Sometimes I remember out of nowhere what it’s like to be in that much pain (it’s like a severe toothache all over the side of my face and sometimes a severe burning sensation like being burned with scalding water and a hot poker driven through my eye socket, I imagine, and like electric shocks searing through my face and head – I don’t know how anyone can endure it but somehow we do) and just remembering reminds me to trivialize everything but in a good way. And each headache is a beautiful reminder. 

Wrinkles aren’t something I get all worked up over but other things I do sometimes like if I don’t get enough sleep or have a sinus cold and have dark circles around my eyes or my face breaks out (lack of sleep is a bitch like that! Lol).

But when my chronic headache flares up, it’s like it all goes out the window and I couldn’t care less about everything else.

While it’s unpleasant that it’s something so severe that does that to me, it’s also a great thing that I have that reminder.

Like now, I’m not in severe pain but just remembering this pain reminds me. 

And this funny suggestion above!  

I hope this puts a smile on your face! 😀

“And there are lines upon my face
From a lifetime of smiles
When the time comes to embrace
For one long last while
We can laugh about
How time really flies
We won’t say good-bye
Cause’ true love never dies…
You’ll always be beautiful in my eyes”

Beautiful in My Eyes – Joshua Kadison – mobile

Beautiful in My Eyes – desktop

Oh my! My heart just melts! ❤ ❤ Listen to/read those lyrics!!

😀

And I hope you're having a lovely day or night wherever in the world you are!

❤

Much love & light, 

Xoxo Kim 

Beautiful thoughts <3

Apr17

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“To make your life beautiful, impregnate your thoughts with beauty.” ~Debasish Mridha

No matter what is going on outside, if our thoughts are laced with beauty, life will be beautiful. And we have the ability to choose how to think. Sometimes beautiful thoughts come naturally while other occasions we may have to work harder and make the choice to think positively.

“Fake it ’til you make it!”

😀

❤

Today was another looonngg day at work! Very busy and fun! 😀

Much love,

xoxo Kim