There is one thing I truly love in life. That one thing is looking at pretty things. You may think that sounds stupid or that there is a better way to word it, but that is truly what it is. One of my favorite things to do is watch sunsets and sunrises. I enjoy how different they all are, how something in their varying colors and shapes and clouds makes my heart flutter.
The same is for snow and water. With snow you may only see white but it is truly so much more than that. At night the snow sparkles. You may see only white, pink, blue, black and purple. I see so many different colors that it makes me want to stare at it for hours on end. Water is a different story.
There is a bridge by my house that overlooks the river and sometimes I will walk to it, lean over the railing and gaze into the water. I find it truly beautiful. How the sun reflects off of it and at some points I can see the rocks underneath and others I can only see the dark abyss. Sometimes I’ll take a hike into the forest by my house and trip over rocks and roots because I am too busy staring at the peaceful landscape and the water.
I live in a remote area so there isn’t much noise except for the calming wildlife. Sometimes I’ll even see a deer and just take a seat and watch them. How they interact with each other and how they are very aware of their surroundings. One time I swear a deer and I stared at each other for a few minutes and it began to come near me but then ran off. What I love looking at more than scenery is art.
I like staring at all kinds of art, paintings, drawings, and photographs. But what I enjoy more than just looking at art is watching people, especially people who do art themselves. I can’t sit and look at a piece of art and find its true meaning., but I can sit and stare and find more and more things about it that make me feel so amazed. I love watching people create art, especially people who thoroughly enjoy it. I’ll watch how they start off with a blank sheet and create something so beautiful.
Something so creative that I could only dream to make, but I’m okay with that. if I was able to do it, I don’t think I’d love it as much as I do now. I like watching people who do it smile to themselves when they feel content and happy with what they’ve made. I like watching them concentrate and get so deep into what they’re doing that they don’t even know what’s going on around them. I like watching them cringe when they mess up and then change it or fix it and sigh peacefully and happily as it turns out well.
Maybe it’s weird, how much I like watching other people, but I truly enjoy watching people do what they love and enjoy. I like watching people do things that make them happy.
~~Maya Shapiro