Leaves and a Snail

Leaves continue to be the go-to subject for my photo walks. Soon, this soon shall pass. We know that everything has a season. With the arrival of November, we move into the more colorless, leafless season of the time we spend hiding from the sun.

The backlit leaves make shadows on one another that tell the story of the leaves on the other side. This is much how generations of people tell the stories of their ancestors through the shadows left on them.

Like found things in nature, the imperfections we all carry tell stories. Some of these are profound, others mundane, and some make you smile. At times, even the blemishes inspire us with their beauty.

While I certainly don't imagine that inspire anyone with the "beauty" of my defects, I do think that it is the shadows of our past and the scars we carry that make us interesting. It is part of the fabric that makes us unique. Without such bruises we'd all be more alike and much less interesting.

This reminds me of "The Boxer" by Simon and Garfunkel...

 

In the clearing stands a boxer
And a fighter by his trade
And he carries the reminders
Of every glove that laid him down
Or cut him 'til he cried out
In his anger and his shame
"I am leaving, I am leaving"
But the fighter still remains

Even after the battle, we still stand and bear the marks of our past attempts at life.

Even now, in the approaching winter, we have suggestions of a brighter future in spite of our defeats and scars. Perhaps because of them, we walk into this future with eyes wide open; no illusions for success.

However, because of Joe Biden's success, we all have a chance. No guarantees. No easy path. But a chance, nonetheless. With our shadows, scars and determination, let us hope that a chance is all we need to reduce the scars in the future for our children and grandchildren. 

"Success is not final; failure is not fatal: It is the courage to continue that counts."

-- Winston S. Churchill