Liz Strauss at Successful Blog

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July 18, 2008

Time to Change Your View?

ME Liz Strauss wrote this at 7:16 am

I've been thinking . . .

about seeing and looking.

Some plants only grow in sunlight. They’re often the ones we see first. They offer vibrant yellows and reds that are meant to catch attention. Butterflies, bees, hummingbirds are drawn to their flowers. It’s not hard to see them.

Some plants only grow in the shade. They’re not less beautiful. They’re in a different light. We have to get closer, change our view, to see them. It not hard to miss them.

This morning I uploaded some photos I took on Monday. A nondescript picture under a tree caught my attention. I pulled it up for a closer look — I found something unexpected. It changed how I thought about that plant and how I valued the photo.

heart-on-a-leaf-by-liz-strauss


Don’t look at the flower. Look at the leaf.

When we change our view, it changes what we see.

It works with more than flowers and leaves.

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Filed under Motivation/Inspiration, Successful Blog | 12 Comments »




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12 Comments to “Time to Change Your View?”

  1. July 18th, 2008 at 7:31 am
    Vicky H said

    Liz,

    I love this article. It’s interesting how many different people can look at the same exact photo and come away with something completely different.

    When I took an Interpersonal Communications course, we spent two weeks on this exact topic that you summed up exactly in one blog post.

    It is however a good reminder of looking for the beauty in not just the obviously beautiful, but in the unobviously, yet no less beautiful.

    Have a great day! xoxoxo

    Vicky H

  2. July 18th, 2008 at 7:36 am
    ME Liz Strauss said

    Hi Vicky!
    I love that advice . . .

    looking for the beauty in not just the obviously beautiful

    You said that so nicely.

  3. July 18th, 2008 at 8:45 am
    rooseve said

    Don’t look at the flower. Look at the leaf.

    That’s beautiful.

  4. July 18th, 2008 at 9:41 am
    Anita Bruzzese said

    Liz,
    Great point. I think we often are so rushed with the “busyness” of our lives that we miss a lot of what is out there. When was the last time you laid in the grass and tried to figure out what the clouds looked like? It’s been forever for me, but you’ve got me thinking that this weekend that’s what I’m going to do. That, and spend time looking at the beauty of my garden, not the weeds.
    Have a wonderful weekend,
    Anita

  5. July 18th, 2008 at 10:34 am
    Mother Earth said

    “love” it –

    i have been experimenting with about town images myself – i walk all over town and appreciate it’s victorian feel, it’s time I try and capture what that means to me

  6. July 18th, 2008 at 10:37 am
    Mother Earth said

    OH – hey anita, I am a bit of a fluffy white cloud fanatic – this summer we have had such a great dose of them and I find they take me places like nothing else can

    I like what you said about the beauty vs the weeds

  7. July 18th, 2008 at 11:47 am
    ME Liz Strauss said

    Hi Rooseve!
    Welcome! Thanks for saying those words. I appreciate them.

  8. July 18th, 2008 at 11:47 am
    ME Liz Strauss said

    Hi Anita!
    When you’re in the garden, think of me. I missed my garden a bit this morning. :)

  9. July 18th, 2008 at 11:50 am
    ME Liz Strauss said

    Hi Mother Earth,
    Finding meaning in what we do — actually looking for it — adds depth and dimension we would otherwise miss. I’m sure you’re seeing that in your photos. :)

  10. July 18th, 2008 at 6:58 pm
    Bamboo Forest said

    Cool post. You’ve made me miss a yard :(

    But, this read was well worth it :)

  11. July 18th, 2008 at 7:24 pm
    ME Liz Strauss said

    Sorry about the longing, Bamboo Forest. I live in a tall building so I know the feeling.

    It means a lot that you thought it was worth it. :)

  12. July 18th, 2008 at 7:32 pm
    Al at 7P said

    Hi Liz – this was a very refreshing post. Thank you!

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