These mail boxes line the street where I live. They have been in my neighborhood for about half a century and show the rust and wear and tear with images on all sides. The more distressed they become, the more unusual and beautiful they appear to me. Aging is part of the life cycle. We must learn to embrace both youth and the passage of time. There are many messages in this box. Sometimes the mail is troubling to receive;we tend to resist seeing our dark side. But we must learn to embrace both the beauty and the beast within our nature. Both good and bad must go into or learning crucible, so that we learn not only how to manifest our gifts, but also hot to tame and rein in and tickle our beasts. Everything that’s present to us is a learning tool. The contents of our “mailbox”, the messages we receive open our way to new insight about ourselves. Sometimes the messages are troubling to receive;we tend to resist seeing our dark side. But we must learn to embrace the beauty and the beast within our nature. As it says in the I Ching, the ancient Chinese book of wisdom, the event is not important, but the response the the event is everything. Our response to events can turn tutted and rusty paths into a great adventure filled with wonder, awe curiosity, discovery and exploration. Everything that is presented to us is a learning tool. Open the mailbox and read the messages. In a quiet place, when the chatter stops, we can receive the messages that guide us on our own true life’s path. And we can surf through the gateway to the soul, to become who we are meant to be.
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Anonymous Guest 20 Feb 2011
-1'Anonymous Guest 12 Nov 2010
-1'Marguerite Thoms 05 Jan 2008
Julie not only are your photographs a gift but your words are as well.Olga van Dijk 05 Jan 2008
Aging is part of the life circle. In the American society they hardly allow you to age gracefully. Everything has to be young and glamorous. Deserved wrinkles in somebody's face have to be injected to disappear of even more devastating face lifted away, since they are not seen as glamorous. In my culture (the Netherlands) one respect elderly for the wisdom they have gained during life. Grandchildren adore their Grandparents (Opa and Oma/Grandpa and -ma) which will be part of all family functions. They will be visited frequently by their children and grandchildren. You know Julie, it's tough to keep up here with all the pressure my daughters have to deal with, it's hard for us parents to see how my children are interpreting our value's and norms and see them change gradually. That's part of (parent) immigrants grief. That's why and when I painted ELEGY during New Year's Day. (Please check, I value your onion!) LOVE YOUR PICTURE and inside. OPEN THE MAILBOX and read the messages. A beautiful sentence! Mail is important for me, since that's contact with my relatives and friends at the other side of the ocean. (now we have email thank God!) That's why I painted my envelopes sent to my Mother (see my portfolio "Letters to my Mother" in which I explain how valuable it is for my mom to receive visual paper mail!) Have a lovely weekend Julie!Jerry 04 Jan 2008
Great coloring and impression!