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Wednesday, September 14, 2011

Beautiful Worlds…What is Yours Like?


Would it be the quiet surface of an empty planet?  Perhaps you like the deep dark ocean with the merman or maid of your dreams?  Maybe it’s a tropical island or lush forest.  But could your beautiful world be a dingy room filled with regret or an alley littered with human despair.

Those who know me well will be shaking their heads by now, not in an absolutely not answer, but more because they know what’s coming.  They can hear my answer loud and clear.  It’s the same as it’s always been.  Yep, there is beauty even in the dingy rooms and alleys.

The beauty of a dingy room or an alley covered in trash is certainly not the outward splendor of a sun-soaked beach with clear blue waters, but it is an inner beauty.  It’s the knowledge that if one person goes to that room or alley, then so can another and another, until finally enough of us arrive to pick-up the discarded debris, to sweep away the dirt and offer a hand to those who need.

As a child, some of my favorite worlds were the ones inhabited by Robin Hood and Maid Marion, The Three Musketeers, Nancy Drew and The Hardy Boys…all Heroes and Heroines  who helped those in need.  Or, of course, that’s how I saw them. 

Even as authors described places lush and lovely, wild and wonton even happy and free, I always found myself more intrigued with the characters, both major and minor who made their worlds so beautiful.  I still do.

Now thinking back over the stories I’ve written I’ve noticed a trend.  Every one of them has a random act of kindness in them.  In The Challenge, it’s a waitress who feeds and warns the hunted heroine.  In A Magical Return, it’s a heroine who buys flowers, every day, from a failing florist.  These are small things in the grand scheme of the stories, but meaningful to those on the receiving end. 

We all have the power to bring happiness and light to those around us with our words, our actions and it’s those random acts of kindness that make any world a beautiful one… 

6 comments:

Unknown said...

SERENA--this is the first thing I've read thing morning past my personal email. It's just beautiful, and it made me stop a minute and refrain from complaining that my air conditioner has been out for two two days, and the repairman who was scheduled to come did not, and so it'll be another day. And I live in Texas.
So, this photo at the top of the blog calmed me and for a few seconds I pretended I was in a different world, one with a lovely beach and the deep blue sea.
Thank you--this was wonderful.
Celia

Serena Shay said...

Thank you, Celia! I'm so glad you enjoyed the post. :) Oh ugh, no AC during Sept in Texas, on some of those days that would be considered a state of emergency!

Positive thoughts that your repair man surprises you today with a smile, a quick fix and a cheap bill!

I, too, have been picturing myself in that chair on the beach...away from the unusual threat of frost tonight. Even for Minnesota, that is odd.

Let's all line up the chairs, kick back with a cold drink of choice and have a fabulous day!

Savanna Kougar said...

Serena, you are so right. Acts of kindness make the world beautiful, and have the potential to create a paradise for us all. A smile in the midst of any ugly situation works miracles at times. I've seen it, and experience it.

Serena Shay said...

Thanks Savanna! I've always been amazed, awed and honored to actually see a smile work miracles. :)

Lindsay Townsend said...

I agree Serena! I love the idea of your heroine buying flowers from a failing flourist. As you say, we can make a difference and it's the small ways that are often the most important.
As Celia says, glorious photos, too.
Inspiring and heart-felt.
A lovely way to start my day - thank you so much!

A lady who was a singer once told me - 'Smile at someone and they will usually smile back.' True thoughts, I've found.

Serena Shay said...

Thanks Lindsay! Smiles are such fabulous things, aren't they. I can never turn away from one...I love the quote from your singer lady. Very, very true!