We all look at the world through filters, and what I see or feel isn’t the same as anyone else. I get that. It’s human to have differences, to have divergent opinions. Take the photo above, for example. It’s a lovely photo, but maybe I don’t really like green all that much. So I change it. I filter it.
Some might think my filter is too hard or too coarse for the image. So I offer a softer take, one where you can almost feel the spanish moss swaying in the warm wind.
And other people might like a mix of styles: a bit of color, some hyper-realism in the tree trunks and softness in the moss.
None of these images are “right” or “wrong” in how they look. They just are. Your filter is what makes you love one more than the others. And I’m not going to call you names just because you like the second one and I really like the last one.
I was trying to reach some big point about filters and differences, but maybe it’s not the day for that. There’s been so much hatred and vitriol in the news this past week, maybe we just need some lovely images and some time to think, each in our own way, on how we can respect differences and remain civil at the same time. Maybe we can bring civility back, one person at a time. I’m in.
A government of, by, and for the people requires that people talk to people, that we can agree to disagree but do so in civility. If we let the politicians and those who report dictate our discourse, then our course will be dictated.
Donna Brazile
I’m In. Pay It Forward.
Thanks Annie. You given voice to what I am feeling and hoping for.
Right on! Our mainline Christian denomination held it’s annual convention at the local Islamic Center yesterday. Wonderful sharing, laughing, and discourse all day but we all stopped in the middle for a long, interfaith, bit of silence and reflection for the Synagogue victims in Pittsburgh. So much of hate is fear of the unknown.
Agree, that fear of the unknown is so powerful right now. If we could all meet outside our little boxes of safety, we might see we have more in common than we think. Thanks for sharing your story, it gives me a little more hope for this country.
Thanks for sharing these beautiful thoughts in this especially dark week. We all must do what we can to help everyone back to a place of love and kindness. It’s a tall order but I know we can do it. ❤
Thank you, Anne. we must do it, that’s all I can think, or we’ll keep descending and who know what would happen (also, I owe you an email and when I get my mojo back, I’m on that…)
Thank you, this is a great post.
Annie. I feel your pain. We wondered how to make a difference in this crazy world. I will share that we recently dropped in on a place housing 36 Guatemalans released by ICE. They were part of more than 700 people released the same weekend and they overwhelmed the local refugee assistance groups in Tucson.
We dropped by one facility and I sorted clothing donations along with several women. None of us spoke the other’s language. We laughed and smiled all morning.
It was a small thing. But, it was something I could do and it made a difference…maybe just a little. The end result was that by getting out of my skin and comfort zone, I felt renewed.
What a beautiful story, Judy, thanks. I think each of us doing small things, just a bit outside our comfort zones, moves the needle in the direction of civility and kindness, so keep going.
This is perfect, Annie. Thanks!
This is beautiful Annie – and much needed after this week. I am so glad you are doing what you are doing and bringing such important perspectives to those of us who follow you.