Monday morning cup of thoughts

the importance of contrast

photo courtesy of Pixabay

First, I wanted to welcome my newest subscribers, Cindy M, Fab D, Nancy J, Ibrahimalita73, Laura R, Ruthiknight, Sara, Angelica B, and Theartisticdiva. I'm happy to have you here.

I woke up this morning contemplating the significance of contrast. Of course, most of us do not enjoy feeling ill, angry, sorry, sad, etc. But only through contrast do we learn the joy life has to offer.

I remember enjoying the movie Lost Horizon released in 1973. It starred Liv Ullmann and Peter Finch, directed by Charles Jarrott. There was also an earlier version of Lost Horizon filmed in 1937. The 1973 version was a musical in full technicolor, no less. My girlfriend and I would listen to the soundtrack repeatedly, singing along to every song. 

The story's premise is what I woke up thinking about this morning. It is the tough times that often shine a light on our blessings. After laying low for the better part of January, I woke up delighted at the thought of a new week in which I could take a walk with my buddies again, finish pruning my roses, make a fire in our fire pit to finally burn our Christmas tree along with the cuttings from our pruning, make a lasagna using the homemade sausage given to us as a Christmas gift from a dear friend, clean my house— you get the idea. 

My downtime, otherwise known here as the contrast, revealed once again what I already know, that it's the simple things that make my life worth living. 

photo courtesy of Pixabay

That sickness that kept me down for the better part of two weeks?— simply the contrast that I needed to begin this year on a special note. To quote one of my favorite authors, Richard Bach,

There is no such thing as a problem without a gift for you in its hands.