when is beauty, for its own sake, enough?in this era of instagram and selfies, do we really need another photograph? do we need another painting? do we even need to remember that inspiring sunset, last year's holiday, the delicious meal?these questions are not to belittle the creative enjoyment of photography or painting. nor are they questioning the delight of wonderful food. rather, they are questions to be pondered as we grow into elderhood and discern the best use of our energy.toni morrison, (born 1931) american novelist, essayist, nobel prize winner, editor, teacher and professor emeritus at princeton university, tells us no, we don’t need the photos or the paintings. she simply reminds us “at some point life’s beauty becomes enough”.
elders, it seems, have reached that point. each moment is precious in and of itself. it needs no embellishment, no frills or photos. yes, it might be nice to share a picture with a friend. it seems though, that after the second or third glance, it no longer holds the passion it held at the moment.living in the present, living in each breath, living in each movement is enough.holding your beloved ones is enough.
seeing a cloud floating across the sky is enough.experiencing a painful moment is enough.
exploring a new interest is enough.shedding tears for refugees, for Mother Earth, for rape victims is enough.
smelling a jasmine flower is enough.tasting fresh parsley, biting into corn on the cob, a tomato exploding in your mouth is enough.feeling your heart in awe of life is enough.
now is the point at which life’s beauty is enough.