post-its, local talent, and unexpected faces

1. Multi-coloured post-its adorn my walls as part of my current personal exercise in discovering, dreaming, and designing my future
2. A trip to the locksmith's shop reveals a local man's passion of turning locks, keys, and deadbolts into pieces of art
3. On a walk with a friend, I look up towards a tree and see a face peering back at me. Ceramic eyes, a nose, and a mouth create a whimsical neighbourhood wood nymph

3BT Manifesto

I read a quote this morning that I think speaks well to the idea of recognizing and rejoicing in the beautiful things around us in everyday life. I often wonder if I'm an optimist or a realist. I like this definition of realism and I also think it speaks well to the spirit of 3BT:

"True realism always and everywhere is ... to find out where joy resides and give it voice .... For to miss the joy is to miss all."

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Life's been a bit hard lately, with the loss of a relationship that was important to me, challenges at work, and questions about the path and direction of my own journey. Grief and loneliness have been real, tangible. But despite all this:

1. The trees outside my window are now in full leaf. They still have the brilliant, lurid green of spring and I feel like I live inside a secret tree house
2. A spectacular sunset is visible against the backdrop of the mountains. A friend arrives at my place just in time to share the last moments of its brillance with me
3. Just as I wondered if Christmas wreaths speak to the personalities of their makers, I notice the many types of planters and flower pots decorating my neighbours gardens and speculate about what type of person planted what type and what combination of flowers

room with a view, honesty, and popsicles

1. I'm spending my long weekend writing a paper. While that's not particularly beautiful, I have access to a laptop so I can sit on my couch and stare out at the sunshine while I write
2. Friends who say it like it is even when I can't quite do the same
3. Two children in front of me in line at the grocer's jump up and down with excitement as their dad buys a box of pink popsicles

bloom where you are planted

1. Cherry blossoms coat the streets and pile up like snow drifts. The cars in my neighbourhood look like they've been to a wedding and have been covered in confetti
2. It's been a cool spring and the lilacs are just blooming now. I take time on a neighbourhood ramble to rediscover their almost-too-sweet old fashioned fragrance
3. A pale pink clematis drapes over the veranda of a bright blue house

pain and love all mixed together

"To love at all is to be vulnerable. Love anything and your heart will certainly be wrung and possibly be broken. If you want to make sure of keeping it intact, you must give your heart to no one, not even to an animal. Wrap it carefully around with hobbies and little luxuries. Avoid all entanglements. Lock it up safe in the casket or coffin of your selfishness. But in the casket, it will change. It will not be broken, it will become unbreakable, impenetrable, irredeemable.

We shall draw nearer to God, not by trying to avoid the sufferings inherent in all love, but by accepting them and offering them to him and trimming away all defensive armour. If our hearts need to be broken, and if he chooses this as the way in which they should break, so be it."

- CS Lewis