Three Art And Nature Quotes That Will Make You Fall In Love With Life

 

I spent last Christmas away from my family, so I thought of bringing a piece of myself to them. I grabbed a paintbrush and watercolours and immersed myself in colourful exploration, making cards for each of them. Once finished, I would write a special message on the back.

I’ve never enjoyed drawing or painting concrete shapes but the experience of just playing with colours was incredibly satisfying. And knowing my family would hold my creations and read my words made me feel closer to them. There is so much magic involved when you create something for others: a sense of accomplishment, of fulfilment. It fills you with love.

But there is another kind of love that is born whenever we dive into art and nature, even in solitude. Sometimes, especially in solitude.

“The artist is a receptacle for emotions that come from all over the place: from the sky, from the earth, from a scrap of paper, from a passing shape, from a spider's web”.

━Pablo Picasso

There is so much beauty all around us, even when we think there isn’t any. The shape of a cloud, the golden light that briefly shines through the window, the rustle of autumn leaves under our feet, the wind toying with grass blades…

The smell of eucalyptus seed pods...

Leaf nerves that are not so different from our hand lines...

The world is a canvas full of possibility.

"Those who contemplate the beauty of the earth find reserves of strength that will endure as long as life lasts. There is something infinitely healing in the repeated refrains of nature-the assurance that dawn comes after night, and spring after winter”.

━Rachel Carson

I’ve battled depression on and off since childhood, but one day I discovered a secret I could never understand until I fell deep in the dark well. When you hit rock bottom, you can only go upwards. And when I went upwards I started seeing the value in every single thing. It was like waking up after a long slumber: you notice everything around you so much more. 

The secret is this: it is the beauty of small things that gives us joy. I learned to observe the cycles we and nature go through and fell in love with the beauty of it. And on the hard days (because we all have them), nature always reminds me: this too shall pass. It always does, as certain as dawn comes after night and spring after winter.

“I have nature and art and poetry, and if that is not enough, what is enough?

━Vincent Van Gogh

Why do we feel pulled to paint, draw, write, sing, play music, photograph something, dance, be in nature? Why do we feel pulled to consume forms of art and lie on the grass and breathe fresh air? We know. We instinctively know this is what we need. We know these are nourishing acts, in the same way eating the right food nourishes our body. We know nature and art are life gifts. So perhaps the question we need to ask ourselves is this:

What if our purpose in life is to fall in love with life?

Today I want to give you permission to simply enjoy looking at a piece of art, or a sunset, or to listen to that song you love so much, or to read a poem that speaks to your heart. Because you deserve to surround yourself with beauty. Because you deserve to stop for a minute and just be, without pushing yourself to do or achieve anything. Because that is enough.

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