And isn’t the whole point of things – beautiful things – that they connect you to some larger beauty? Those first images that crack your heart wide open

~ Live & Learn

Notes:

  • Photo: Reiko Takahashi documented these dolphins near Mikurajima, Japan. She writes that they had “been floating for a long time staying close together.” National Geographic (August 2, 2019)
  • Post Title: “Only – if you care for a thing enough, it takes on a life of its own, doesn’t it? And isn’t the whole point of things – beautiful things – that they connect you to some larger beauty? Those first images that crack your heart wide open and you spend the rest of your life chasing, or trying to recapture, in one way or another?” — Donna Tartt, The Goldfinch (via Beth @ Alive on All Channels, always an inspiration.)

46 thoughts on “And isn’t the whole point of things – beautiful things – that they connect you to some larger beauty? Those first images that crack your heart wide open”

        1. I always, all my life, dreamed of being chosen to beta read books (which would later, of course, become best sellers of the type I then would buy!!!!) – girl, you have my dream job!
          And to speak in Dave terms: !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

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          2. and sadly so very true!!!! Whenever I read a book to take me in completely, I think: Why did I have to wait 2yrs before I could get my paws on it? Why oh why didn’t they ask me to beta-read it?????

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          4. Well, I wouldn’t dream of asking money for it. It is just to be able to read (and send ‘corrections’) it first. Also, I seem to have a very discerning eye (well, two!) – grammatical or other errors literally jump at me from the page – the worst being wrongly translated words in foreign languages!

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  3. This passage brought me up short. I have spent the better part of the afternoon floating around in the pool, staring at cloud formations and watching palm fronds wave in the breeze, marveling at the fact that I now have the opportunity to call such an idyllic setting home. Weird and wild for a girl who grew up in a small Midwestern farming community. More than a bit surprised at how things play out, but always and ever grateful….

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    2. Oh Lori, I just picture you, beautifully, gracefully floating in a pool (JEALOUS!!!!), contemplating your life and how things alway turn out differently to what one thinks, but somehow, even if it’s not at all what one thought, it’s probably OK and as it should be – in the end, and all things considered! Lots of love to you!

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  4. Love the title inspiration. And it reminds me of few Mary Oliver lines I hold very close to my heart,
    ““We need Beauty

    because it makes us ache

    to be worthy of it.”

    P.s. I don’t eat Dolphin. I eat shark though!

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      1. 😊
        Surprisingly it’s very tender, and not fishy at all. I prefer fishy fish. I would never eat dolphin. I guess even I have a line I wouldn’t cross!

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  9. Aeons ago, I’ve read that book – but all I remember really is that it was a very heavy hardback, falling three times on my face before I realised that I should probably go to sleep….
    What a really inspiring photo and poetry combo! Thank You

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  10. Much beauty in this world…this touching photo of loving commendatory, hidden below the sea would be lost to the world if not for the photographer, Reiko Takahashi, across the world from most of us… National Geographic publishing it and for your readers if you hadn’t shared it with us…thank you 🙂

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