Sunday, October 31, 2010

Another brick in the wall


Stoic witness
London, ON, October 2010
[Click here to share your own yellow-themed vision]


I've always been quite the contrarian. When everyone's looking inward, I'm staring outward. When the gang's gathered together, I'm wandering around the periphery. It's not that I'm not interested in what everyone else is interested in; I'm not that antisocial. But I am more intent on finding the story not told, because I just don't see the point in rehashing the same old. Conventionality never was my thing.

And so while we were having a quiet meal at a local restaurant to celebrate the end of our daughter's Bat Mitzvah weekend (see here and here for more), I found myself staring at the surrounding brick walls. So many families both just like and nothing like ours had gathered in this very spot. I wondered if the folks who sat here on those earlier, unseen nights had felt as comfortable in their place in the universe as we did at that moment. I wondered what these walls would say if they could speak. I wondered about the unknown people who long ago built this wall, then moved on. I simply wondered.

It was a good moment, so I thought sharing this picture would extend that moment out to all of you as well.

Your turn: How do you know when all is right with the world? What does it feel or look like?

14 comments:

SY said...

this is a great picture.. thanks for sharing

Kalei's Best Friend said...

The feeling I get is a feeling of calm.. Usually it happens when its midday and the sun is out and I am soaking in the vitamin D.. Usually if things go wrong its morning time.. and call me superstitious but it just seems things awful happen in the morning.. I've only had a few awful things happen at night..

Prettypics123 said...

I love those moments when all feels right with the world. It's a feeling that definitely emotes from within and usually follows some great appreciation for either persons in my world and/or my environment.

Deko said...

I don't know... I've never felt that I'm all right with the universe...

Anonymous said...

Wow.. big question.. yet the answer is quite simple..for me, at least.
When I know I have extended the hand of kindness, made a fellow brother/sister smile, eased a load..then yes, all is right with the world..

so pleased to have found your blog..like minds. a real treat..thank you for posting..

21 Wits said...

I too find myself digging deeper in whatever existed in the past. Especially in new places. How something came to be. From what kinds of people, past events, what emotions were felt, what was regarded as important or not. How it or a place came to be. I like to think this allows a person to appreciate things/places more.
"How do I know when all is right with the world?" When I feel at peace with the moment, but then I'll begin to sense a gloom that it will all be taken away. " What does it feel or look like?" Like a flower opening for the first time, or like a mother looking at her new baby crying out for the first time, and you open your arms, and your heart.

Anonymous said...

Great Question: A wise old rabbi said that this world will be at peace when we meet a stranger and look at the stranger as our own.

*************

Mr. Levi,

Pertaining to your article on Yahoo finance regarding Wikileaks,
please note that you ignored the fact that the military "lied" and the business cannot or should not tell lies. If a busineman lies to his shareholders than please understand that this MUST be reported by honest coworker.
I am sorry to use this "brick in the wall" blog to sen you this message because I hav no other way to send you and email.

I enjoy your blogs.

Thanks

srp said...

Things are all right with this world.... when I have my child wrapped in my arms and hear her say she still loves me... even when all grown up. That day will be December 14th... when she comes home for Christmas.

carmilevy said...

Anonymous: Thanks for your comment - and for the quote. Very topical!

I can always be reached at carmilevy AT gmail DOT com. It's in my blog profile in case you lose it.

For the record, I didn't "ignore the fact that the military 'lied'". Rather, that wasn't the core focus of the article, which was a message to businesses that the WikiLeaks leak should be a security wake-up call.

I may yet pitch additional articles that examine different aspects of this highly complex issue, but recognize that I'm a tech/business journalist, and the markets I focus on don't place huge value on articles that revolve around conspiracy theories.

I'm not saying right, wrong or otherwise. I'm simply saying it isn't my journalistic thing, something I had hoped would be apparent from the way the piece was written and where it was published.

Brian Miller said...

nice. love those moments...thre is a contentedness that sits right about your diaphram...i tend to look for those stories as well..thanks for the encouragement...

bruce said...

celebrate life!

when the universe and me are at one my world is calm.

like the sunrise on a lake glasslike flat without a ripple and the sounds are of creatures waking and creatures tucking themselves in...

21 Wits said...

I really enjoyed the quote left by, anonymous. Thank you!

Dana @ Polish food said...

I can see you're really up to date in posting great ideas on your blog. I know this one is quit an old post but the reason I am commenting is that I can relate of what your pointing out. I just love the way you describes the feeling of comfort and warmth when we see the real world we live in. Thanks for sharing it with us. It inspires me.

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