Breathing, heart beating, blushing -- all beyond our control. We don't make them happen. They just happen.
Sometimes I see or hear something so beautiful that a physical response just happens -- also, beyond my control & always a "wonder" to me. Warmth in my gut spreads quickly upward to my face, which gets hot. I suspect I'm beet red. Then tears spill out, impossible to block. I wish I understood the sensory-physical-chemical inter-relationships that enable this feeling, which is profound.
I absolutely remember the first time I experienced this "
severe appreciation of art"! In 1974 we crossed the country in 2 cars to move from flat Louisiana to dramatically beautiful Pacific Northwest. We spent a month along the way tenting in national parks whenever possible. I will never forget the morning when I came out of our tent into the glorious sunshine & saw the Grand Tetons, snow-capped, & framed by the park's huge evergreens & lake.
(Photo by Jackson Hole Photos). I had really never seen mountains or majestic, tall evergreens. It was breathtaking. Also, after 33 years, I still get that feeling whenever I'm driving around a curve in Seattle & see
Mt. Rainier looming high above the horizon!
But let me hear certain segments of music & the feeling is even more profound. The bad news is that I simply can't get that musical phrase out of my head. For a day or 2, I'll mentally play it over and over, which can really disrupt any serious attempt to work.
Last night a friend sent me an audio/video clip, which is stuck in my brain today. I've probably played the actual clip 5 times total, & each time this same feeling of almost-aching pleasure overtakes me. (And whatever you might be relating this feeling to, I'd say -- Yeah, almost as good as that!) Then the tears come -- each time! I wasted many tissues over this piece. Today's blog post was supposed to be Part 2 of Photography, the Agony of Defeat. But why fight it? My brain just wants to hum this music & write about the utter joy I feel every time I see/hear the clip!
PROPOSAL FOR YOU: Please watch the clip with the volume turned up & your Kleenex handy. (Click the
website link in the column on the right,
"Too Beautiful to Bear..." It takes about 3 minutes.) It would be fun to know what "art" (in the broadest sense) you've encountered that gives you this pleasure.
Please 'COMMENT' back!. (Just click the blue "Comments" link below this post & write in the box. Then decide if you want to be anonymous, sign your initials, name, or login to Google. No problem, regardless. Your comments will appear after I read them & weed-out the spam & the ultra-weird.) I hope you enjoy the clip! HERE'S A PROMISE: I'll get back on track in my next post :)
Do you remember Paul Potts from the British version of American Idol (Britain's Got Talent)? The very same Paul Potts whose unlikely voice consistently fills me with such emotion that I had to blog about him? In fact, I frequently call up this blog just to click on his permanent link to the right, listed under Inspirational Links! Well, here is the next Paul Potts. And here I am again overwhelmed with emotions I don't understand by the angelic voice of this child. Have a listen & enjoy Andrew Johnston, age 13. I hope his voice doesn't change. 
