Clouds Illusions

Recently, we had a "Joni-Mitchell-Clouds-Illusions-type" day -- recall her 1966 hit song, "Both Sides Now."   (Click on the link to listen to the song.) 

The clouds throughout the day were magnificent! 

"Rows and floes of angel hair,
Ice cream castles in the air,
And feather canyons everywhere,
::
But now they only block the sun."

It was one of those days when Creation's Beauty invited us to slow down, notice our surroundings, and reflect on life.

Are your Life Plans all lined up?
(Photo:  "Rows and floes of angel hair" - Larry Gardepie)

Like the clouds, the song speaks to the changes and temporariness of life:  we assume we know what is the next best thing for us... then the Winds of Life blow... and we are left wondering.

"It's clouds illusions I recall,
I really don't know clouds at all."

Is it an illusion to know what's best for ourselves and others?  How do we respond when we don't get what we want?

What happens when obstacles block your dreams?
(Photo:  "But now they only block the Sun" - Larry Gardepie)

The challenge, I believe, is to dream and hope and plan... balanced with a healthy acceptance of floating and adjusting. That is, the willingness to:

• Welcome and embrace the unexpected;
• Adapt and flow with new experiences; and,
• Consider and adjust when previously unseen Truths Emerge.

Maybe that's the purpose of life: to have our dreams AND to evolve our understanding of purpose, values, and connectedness.

What don't you know?
(Photo: "Ice cream castles in the air" - Larry Gardepie)

What is beautiful about Joni's prophetic song is her repetition of the words "Both Sides Now":

"I've looked at clouds from both sides now."
"I've looked at love from both sides now."
"I've looked at life from both sides now"

It's the humble acceptance that we might not know everything right now, we must stay in dialogue with others, and our illusions (assumptions?) might change.

Let's be open to looking at both sides now!

Larry Gardepie

Dialogue San Diego Consulting