Evanescent
Evanescent-
Oh boy, I had to look this one up…maybe because I am the Queen of Holding On, of refusing to let go of stuff, especially love and also beauty…in any and all of its forms. And PEOPLE, don’t get me started. I hang on to people, healthy for me or not. I am still in touch with almost every boy I have ever loved!!
So I had a hard time “getting” the definition of this word…
| synonyms: | vanishing, fading, evaporating, melting away, disappearing; |
I learn so many lessons from sea shells. Having grown up by the ocean, I have been a collector all my life. But it wasn’t until an amazing sailing trip throughout Fiji, where we got to prowl along beaches so remote it truly felt like we might be the first humans to ever lay bare feet in that sand, that I realized I was a shell snob. That was my first insight into my own ageism. I only wanted those gorgeous, undamaged shells. In other words, the young perfect ones.
Even though we had to receive permission from the chief of an island to collect shells, it was the locals who pointed out I was gathering shells that might not be finished with their life’s purpose yet. Most shells are recyclable! I was stealing some hermit crab’s future home or maybe a pearl’s gestation container!
But this post is not about shells. My interpretation of evanescent is about all things with a life cycle, no matter how short or long. My lesson from the word this week is to remember how the Fijians (the iTaukei) taught me to fully appreciate beauty at every stage.
It’s easy to see and appreciate the evanescent progression in nature…
I can see the obvious beauty there…
But it’s a bit more difficult when I study the phenomenon of Evanescence while looking in the mirror!
Time…….passing at warp speed now!
That’s all I can say…
Beautiful. (and a great concept, too)
yes it speeds up as we grow older. You are quite a beauty- then and now my friend/ Loved the shells, the hydrangea.
Blush. ..thanks. ..
Excellent exploration of this strange word. I especially appreciated the four stages of life portrayed in the four photographs of yourself. I don’t believe a person realizes how time flies and how precious time is until you reach our age. Thanks for your thoughts and images…
Galen
What a thoughtful comment. Thank you.
I agree with the other commenters. You are still so beautiful. This is a really good post, from beginning to end. Amma says we should not pluck a flower or fruit or vegetable before its time…. in a way that is very similar to your life’s purpose statement.