"Depression opens the door to beauty 
of some kind."
- James Hillman

I was reading quotes on beauty, looking for a fresh, uncommon perspective, something that might make you think, Hmmm, and wonder about it.  It seemed like hundreds before one stopped me. This one challenged me.

I see beauty in nature, music, and art. 

In friendship, hope - all our gifts and talents - and dreams. In authenticity and forgiveness. In prayers and tears. In solutions to problems...there's too much to list. 

I think of Anne Frank saying: "I don't think of all the misery, but of the beauty that remains." 

Is there beauty in everything? 

I am not seeing beauty in depression itself, nor in any form of suffering. But facing depression, experiencing it without trying to stifle or deny feelings, I can appreciate beauty of that. And in summoning courage, strength and hope. 

I've seen beauty at funeral masses and after tragedies and horrors. I see beauty, not in the tragedy, but in the aftermath, when we connect with one another in deep compassion. 

Ah, there it is. Now I see it. It's in the compassion we have for ourselves and others when we realize we are not alone in the pain of depression. According to the World Health Organization, about 280 million people worldwide suffer with depression. 

All of humanity suffers, deeply, in some way, many ways. When we realize that, when we care, a door opens to beauty, the beauty within us, the beauty in our humanity, and the beauty in all humanity, even with our weakness and all our troubles.  Perhaps especially with our weakness and troubles. 

What do you think?

Blessings of beauty to all.

With love,
Charlene

THE SECOND GIFT IS BEAUTY. 
May your deeds reflect its depth.  
- from The Twelve Gifts of Birth