It’s standard advice – when the big picture is overwhelming or upsetting, narrow your gaze. Calm the nervous system by mindfully noticing the beautiful little things.
About 100 days ago I decided to once again do a 100 day Instagram art challenge. My intention was to post a photo every day that captured an image of a natural element – air, water, fire, stone/earth, wood. Vaguely, I though they would make good fodder for digital collages. I don’t make digital collages at the moment, but who knows?
Now that it’s at an end, I’ve noticed a few things.
Natural occurrences of fire don’t happen often in the urban wild where I wander, but I’m more mindful of how many people are vulnerable to this natural element, one that can guarantee survival or destruction.
Capturing a still image of air hasn’t been easy, but it’s made me notice and appreciate the ways the breezes move the water, the leaves and grasses, the clouds, my curtains and even my hair.
Since I’m looking every day, I’ve seen more rainbows in the past 100 days than in the past ten years.
Other than those rainbows, natural elements tend toward neutral, leaving me hungry for vibrant color. Now I know what I’ll be looking for in the next 100 days, perfectly timed for images of spring and summer food and flora.