Painting Your Picture Of Paradise | Community Insight
Image courtesy of PatrickSmithPhotography
This is a perfect case of backward blogging. Instead of a post prompting a picture, it was this picture that inspired the post.
Last Friday’s ‘Community Insight’ post brought us an amazing array of ‘colors’ to the “Motivate Thyself” archives. I was blown away with the detailed dioramas that had bloomed from the soil of a single shade of light (or dark in some cases). It was quickly evident that we are all blessed with ‘talented’ imaginations as well as unique perspectives on the world around us. So it is from these findings that I’ve brought to you this next ‘forum’ for you to show your true colors. But this time, we’re going to get out our paint brushes as we bring texture to our own personal paradise.
The image above represents the ‘Hollywood’ version of paradise. Palm trees, crashing waves and probably some form of alcoholic beverage with one of those miniature umbrellas hanging off the side. Now let me be clear; one of the reasons this has become a sort of ‘cookie cutter’ dreamland is because most of us wouldn’t mind spending some time laying on it’s shores. But I think if we were to individually asses our ideal ‘dream land’, we would find quite differing visions. Not to say the beautiful photo in question wouldn’t encompass many dreams of those reading these words, but I think it’s only one of many portraits of a perfect paradise.
For this offering of ‘community insight’ I would like us to share what we think of when that passionate ‘P’ word is brought to our attention. I want you to brush aside the templates that the world sees as ‘fit for fantasy’ and be true to yourself as you dream up your own ‘if only’. Think about a situation where money is irrelevant and locations, there for the taking. Dream without boundaries as you piece together your ideal situation. You can be whatever you wish as you spend your days enjoying the purpose of living in amazement each and every day. This isn’t about ’causes’ or ‘needs’ to be met, but about creating a land that lives as if the world was right.
Yours may be one of lavishness or simple solitude. The ground may be lush and green or it might just glisten with the frozen powder of freshly fallen snow. The mountains may be towering or the hills barely hovering off the surface of the valley. Water or desert or both, the sky is not even the limit.
Oh, and don’t forget the people that litter our lives with loving hearts and open arms. Without these ‘beating hearts’, the land is nothing more than a beautiful background. So be sure to paint them in as you bring together your masterpiece that saturates your senses.
I’ll go first…
Image courtesy of snapdragginphoto
I’m afraid my picture of paradise doesn’t include coconut cups. Though I love the beach, it’s not the landscape feature that encompasses my ‘dream land’. Instead it is the mountains that uncover my favorite natural feature. Whether it’s the rounded tops of the Blue Ridge where I was raised and still reside or the pointed peaks of the Colorado Rockies, I’m always at home well above sea level. With my mountain bike as my steed and the beautiful views as my third lung, I would ride each day through these fantastic features of continental charisma.
As far as a house and a community to call home, I must admit that it is my town that provides all I could ever propose. Current enough to give all the 21st’s comforts, but small enough to enjoy them comfortably, I’m gratefully living in my ideal setting. And within spitting distance of my favorite rolling ‘bike roads’, it’s everything I could ever need to feel content.
But here is where the priceless value enters this delightful desire. It is with my beautiful wife and our unborn child that I wish to share this sensational scenery. It is in her absence that the sky would cloud over and the mountains become nothing more than an eyesore. And it is with the presence of my princess that my paradise becomes perfect.
Now the floor is yours…
15 Responses to “Painting Your Picture Of Paradise | Community Insight”
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Hi Eric – What an interesting idea for a post. First, I love the first photo. It does make me envision walking along the beach, hand in hand with my husband, but…
My paradise would be somewhere that has the ocean with the waves crashing against the rocks, and coves of sandy beaches. And if I turned 180 degrees, I could see the mountains, with fresh snow glistening in the sunshine. And again, I would be walking hand in hand with my husband toward the quaint little house, with a wrap around porch, windows on all sides and a fire burning in the stone fireplace, and our dogs trailing behind.
Barbara Swafford´s last blog post..Casual Friday – The Floor Is Yours
Rolling green hills with spots of color from the white of the daisy to the red of the berries. Blue sky above, I mean, Big Sky blue. Clean air, a constant warm breeze stirring up the scents of nature. A babbling brook at every nook. A place to sit and ponder. A place where time doesn’t exist, and hurry is not in the vocabulary. Sounds of children, happy, playing, filling the air. Peace, Serenity, Spiritual.
And free wireless internet so that while pondering my days I could still write and blog and share my paradise with my community.
scott´s last blog post..The Scariest Night of My Life
Our move to Arizona last year has me livning in my paradise. In fact we just bought a sign for our back yard that says, “another day in paradise.” The great thing about Arizona’s weather is back yards are called “outdoor living rooms.
In the short year we’ve been here I discovered the names of the cacti and have planted them everywhere. We have a fan palm in the front yard and a pineapple palm in the back yard. We also planted an orange tree that should produce fruit next year.
The mountains are amazing. I now know where the idea of “purple mountain majesty” was born. My husband and I have just started hiking and I’m learning how to golf.
I’ve also started running again after a two year break. No more running in snow and ice. I’m training for a half marathon.
We left behind our big home in Michigan and nearly all of our furniture and other belongings we either sold or gave away. Our home is very small here so we can spend more time having fun and less time taking care of “stuff.”
Moving to the south west after a life in Michigan was a dream from the time our children were in grade school. When the economy first began to fall we knew it was “now or never.”
We sold our home the night before our going away party and my husband got a new job the night before the moving truck left the yard.
Because my daughter works for the airlines we fly free which has allowed us to visit friends and family several times in the past 12 months back in Michigan. Our grandchildren have spent three different weeks here. Simply amazing!
Dreams really do come true if you do the work required and never give up.
Tess Marshall´s last blog post..
Hi Eric,
I love the picture of the mountains you have over here. It really look fantastic and being so near to the mother nature definitely help to bring us a feeling of tranquility.
Cheers
Vincent
Personal Development Blogger
Vincent´s last blog post..7 Tips To Remove the Clutters On Your Desk
Paradise for me is hiking through the Scottish highlands. The scenery is breathtaking and rugged. The air is clean and crisp. Add my wife and son into the picture and I’m set.
Great post idea Eric, I look forward to next week’s installment.
I live nine blocks from the beach, so I’m spoiled. I’d want something different. Paradise to me is a lot of open space and quiet. A place where I can pace the floor, then sit down and be creative. Right now I would settle for space that didn’t include me constatnly tripping over piles of toys.
Writer Dad´s last blog post..Bright Ideas
There’s a cold weather paradise and a warm weather paradise.
Cold weather months sees me on a boat (around 45′) in Southern Climates. Beach, palm trees, waves, sipping espresso on the bow.
Warm weather months find me exactly where I am now, in my beautiful house, but all the indoor and outdoor renovations are complete. I love Quebec, I love entertaining friends and family, and I love that our boat is just a 3 minute drive away.
And it goes without saying, but I’ll say it anyway, no paradise is paradise without my beloved Urbane Lion by my side!
Urban Panther´s last blog post..Faerie glasses
@Barbara: I love your addition of the rocks and the mountains and the snow to the wonderful serenity of the crashing waves. And with the dogs following behind, your paradise is calling my name.
@Scott: ‘Big sky blue’ is my favorite color, Scott. And the children playing, babbling brooks, I’m there…
@Tess: I’m so glad you have found a home that you enjoy. Going from one extreme to another can be a wonderful experience. I’m a sunshine guy, myself, so that all sounds very enticing.
@Vincent: I know, isn’t that a great picture?! I’m glad you enjoyed the post.
@Neil: I spent a week in Edinburgh in ’99 and loved it. My dad and I hiked a little ways while we were there. It was so lush and green and, as you said, the air was nice and crisp. I’ll definitely have to go back one day.
@Sean: “…open space and quite.” So simple, yet sounds like paradise to me!
@Urban Panther: I agree that the two climate extremes have their own unique ‘paradise’ qualities. Yours sound wonderful! Eric.
My paradise is sunny and warm and includes my family. That’s about it.
Vered – MomGrind´s last blog post..Ugliest Shoes EVER
I just came back from the paradise in the first picture and I had pneumonia, bed bug bites, and it was way too hot…but being here for 3 weeks with out leaving home….I realize that living in this stunning house (I post about this house Wednesday the 19th) with its view of the lake, the sound, the Cascades and the Olympics and knowing that my honey built this spot because of his love for his family and that those pesky, brilliant kiddos will be coming home in a month…just makes me think I have it all now. Then after the flooding came the stunning sunshine, clarity of fall…I vote on where I am.
I love the solitude of my old washing porch office and knowing all these great folks are writing on the Internet and I can find them and touch base….well
…only thing I would change in my paradise is getting rid of the medical debts and knowing I would have enough funds to last my lifetime – that is my worry.
Nice idea and beautifully voiced. Thank you.
Patricia´s last blog post..Factoid Friday: A Thank You Note to Lambie
@Vered: Sounds like paradise to me!
@Patricia: Sorry you were sick while in ‘paradise’, but it sounds like your appreciation for the blessings you have has been heightened which is always a wonderful thing. Thanks for sharing, Eric.
Paradise…what is it? It’s mountains, it’s house we make a home, it’s sun-drenched days in the backyard. My home now is this, without the mountains. It’s also outdoor recreational activities (like places to bike and hike), and it’s being around friends and family. And that’s what it’s all about.
No place is a perfect paradise, but every place can be our own paradise, it’s what we make of what we have…
Lance´s last blog post..Thanks For The Cookie
@Lance: That’s a great perspective, Lance. One that allows for appreciation where ever we are. Thanks for sharing your thoughts. Eric.
I love the idea of a picture inspiring a post.
For me, I don’t think paradise is a place so much as a purpose. When you have one, and you have the time to work toward fulfilling it, then you’ve found “paradise.”
That said, I definitely prefer sunny climates, heh heh.
Lindsay´s last blog post..How to Create Financial Independence with Your Writing (AKA Be a Dairy Farmer, Not a Cattle Rancher)
@Lindsay: I can definitely go with that concept. When we have a purpose and time to fulfill it, as you said, our surroundings are nothing more than a back drop. But it never hurts to have a beautiful backdrop to fulfill our purposes.
Eric.