The Beauty of Fragility

Photo by Antonio Poveda Montes on Unsplash

I can't even begin to remember how many times the idea of the beauty of fragility has arose in the books I have been reading.  After about the fifth time, I assumed the universe was tapping on my shoulder over and over trying to get me to pay attention.  As  I have reached an age where the term "older" applies, the fragility of life has become more apparent.

While overall I am still in a good space, friends and family less fortunate are facing difficult challenges, and I regularly have to deal with the passing of someone I will miss greatly.  Four women I know have lost their husbands in the last two years alone.  Every time that happens I take a moment to hug my husband and tell him how much I love him. 

Finding the beauty in fragility can be a challenge for anyone, at any time of life, but I think is the hardest time is as we age. It is in our later years we begin to see daily reminders of how quickly our fragility can impact our own lives.  Health, accidents, economic challenges, political shifts, tragic loss, and emotional struggles can each change the landscape we walk through in the blink of an eye. 

I had to dig deep and read widely to being to understand the concept of the beauty inherent in all things fragile.  One of the first, and probably the strongest for me, is the need to appreciate and embrace the temporary joys in our life - a flower, a feeling, a moment, an experience, an opportunity, a success. All of these are moments that offer us joy and beauty. They require us to pause and take note. To reflect on what is offered and embrace it. 

Another is the transient nature of our lives.  I remember reading a comment that we are all dying and thinking who would want to sink into such a dark space.  Over time I began to understand what they were trying to say. We are born and we die. That is the human experience.  On top of that, we never know how long our life will extend, and what our health will be like as we age.  Both will change at some point.  

The author hoped that by acknowledging this truth, we will not waste our wild and precious life, but choose instead to spend our time wisely and living life to the fullest.  Reach for the sky, immerse yourself in dreams and pursue your passions.  Let your journey be a wild ride full of twists and turns, highs and lows, successes and failures, love and loss.  Slide in at the end worn and tired, but laughing. 

Of all my take-aways on this subject, the biggest one is to simply quit allowing myself to be distracted.  Instead chose to be fully present in each moment of each day.  Turn off the computer, set aside your cell phone, ignore the siren call of the TV.  Just be.  And if you get bored, do something - walk, sew, sing, dance, paint, draw, exercise, bake...anything that connects you with the fragile, beautiful world surrounding you.