I am sure most of us love and admire beautiful things. Beauty is indeed in the eye of the beholder but sometimes we need to stop, take a deep breath, and look around at all the gorgeous things there in this world for us to enjoy.
We need to be careful to preserve beautiful things, as they are often irreplaceable.
Modern technology sometimes overrides beauty, often scarring our landscape.
Indeed, we need progress. New structures have to be built and we need new roads, I do appreciate that. However, sometimes I wonder if in the name of progress the designers, planners and architects really stop to consider they could be spoiling something naturally stunning.
In this crazy, busy life we all seem to lead nowadays, we do not seem to make enough time to just soak everything up and enjoy what is in front of us.
I like to think I am quite a feminine person and I do love pretty things. I really love the soft feminine fabrics of today and the charming perfumes and clothes that float around our bodies and fall softly. It is so much easier when travelling if we have fabrics that do not crush and ones that take little care. When we are on holiday, we want to look good especially if we are in some of the big fashion cities of the world. The idea of having to have our clothes pressed and preened all the time is such a nuisance. I love being able to hang something up in my wardrobe that looks great and I know is not going to give me grief taking care of it.
When I was younger, I really fancied myself as an interior designer. I love clean lines and smart, snappy design. I do not like the clinical look but I do like rooms not to be over-cluttered. If you saw my house, you would see I have some work to do to get rid of the clutter but having a three year old around I seem to be experiencing more of the later. I do prefer modern homes and would dearly love a massive kitchen. In saying that I would still probably end up with flour from one end of it to the other when I am cooking. I have to admit I am not the tidiest person in the kitchen, I am happy to cook but not so keen on cleaning up the mess.
Having beautiful flowers growing in my garden is something I really love. Sadly, my husband and I do not seem to get as much time in the garden as we would like. I keep flicking through the garden magazines and sending not so subtle hints to him about how nice it would be to have our garden looking like the ones in the photos. Things always look so nice in glossy magazines don’t they? My husband generally gives me a nod and the look of ‘yes it may happen’ but that is usually as far as it goes. Once we retire (goodness knows when that will be), we might have more time for our garden. That is if the arthritis does not kick in and our knees still touch the ground easily! My family understand how I love being in the garden as it has been my inspiration for my children’s stories and my inspiration for all things magical and small.
I also really appreciate good art. I am probably more a landscape sort of person or something with a simple design. My son is both an art teacher and an artist. I really appreciate his work and am extremely proud of him. Some of the art out there I do not really understand, but I can see the merit in it. My son made me a little picture for my sixtieth birthday with the word ‘MUM’ on it, I was so excited and it takes pride of place on my buffet.
Even though I do not have a size ten figure I can really appreciate good clothing design. I love watching Gok Wan and seeing what he can create out of almost nothing. Just draping a piece of fabric around a body and turning it into something spectacular is so inspiring.
Going to beautiful places and experiencing incredible architecture, landscapes and gardens is indeed something I really appreciate.
When I am lucky enough to go to Italy, I try to buy myself a good handbag or a pair of shoes. It usually takes me a few months before I pluck up the courage to use the handbag in fear of damaging it. My husband often remarks, "Why did you buy that bag if you are not going to use it?" Silly really. I guess it is a bit like the days when we used to have something in our wardrobe we kept just for ‘best’ and it rarely came out.
Years ago I bough a pair of shoes at Marks and Spencer’s in London. Those shoes cost me forty pounds, which seemed a lot in 1998 but they lasted for years. As a result, I have definitely concluded that sometimes spending that little bit more pays off in the end. The shoes have only just given up, they owe me nothing but I always felt smart and elegant when I wore them.
In life, some of the simplest things like a stunning sunset, a pretty pond or a simple rose can hold so much beauty.
We do need to really stop what we are doing for just a moment and look around us at what is beautiful. It is so easy just to take it for granted. We jump in our cars and head off without even taking the time to look around. Often we even miss small changes like a new flower that has just popped up in our garden or that tiny fruit bud that has just started to form on the tree.
Sometimes progress can overshadow the simple things in life. It is a shame often beautiful buildings have to make way for new roads or office blocks. This of course can be necessary, but as long as we can preserve and appreciate what we do have then all the better. To appreciate beautiful things in life they do not have to be expensive. Just a simple rose in the garden, a beautiful sunset or the sun glistening on the water has its own unique beauty. We all need to take the time to seek out and find what is beautiful in life.
By Kay Rayner
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