Tag: Perspective

Endless Perspective

by Ebb Then Flood

‘Endless Perspective’

Sometimes life gives you a sense of perspective that you didn’t ask for.

My oesophageal cancer diagnosis in 2021 was one such life event.

The diagnosis, arduous and lengthy treatment, and following slow recovery were hellish really. Those close to me also suffered tremendously.

If felt like the destination of healing was an eternity away, sort of like the end point beyond the colonnades of the building in the photo above.

Two years later, and against strong odds, I am gratefully clear of the disease, as far as is known, at any rate.

There is the huge perspective one gets about life’s fragility.

Then there is the perspective one gains about the possibilities in each day,

Other life problems pale in comparison. My half-joking mantra,when faced with negative issues now is : “Well, it’s not cancer”. Black humour takes the edge off; most crises are not the end of the world!

Even posting on this blog is an act of creation that in some small way balances out cancer’s destructive force.

Endless perspective then…

Disturbed

by Ebb Then Flood

IMG_3779 (2)

‘Disturbed’ 

On the surface of things, it’s a tranquil scene of coastal New Zealand.

Nothing disturbing, but something is disturbed.

The high winds and hard rain blew through here only minutes ago.

In the distance, there is a thick haze.

It is neither fog nor smoke.

The sand off the dunes and sandspit has been temporarily displaced into the air.

What was on the ground is now airborne.

There are those moments in our lives too, when havoc wreaks and major disturbance occurs.

When everything is up in the air.

It’s uncomfortable for sure.

But when you are in that space there is, if nothing else, the chance to see things from another, different, perspective.

And sometimes after the chaos, there will be a sense of tranquility.

If you are in “the churn”, I hope you find that, I really do.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Above The Wharf, Over The Sea

by Ebb Then Flood

20190903_212947.jpg

This was one view I had today.

Above a wharf stretching out over the sea.

Elsewhere on this blog is a series of pictures entitled “Under The Wharf, Above The Waves”. About being between worlds; neither/nor; other.

Not today. Things must be better and my outlook more optimistic for me to take this photo, make this picture.

Progress.

A different perspective from before.

Stretching out, and over…

 

Lift

by Ebb Then Flood

20190805_180241.jpg

“I think it is incumbent on anyone who can, to lift human dignity to the highest possible levels, maintaining one’s own and helping to raise that of others.”

        – Henry Rollins

Great words from former Black Flag frontman and spoken word artist Henry Rollins.

Emphasises to me the togetherness of humanity – sometimes you will be the lifter (when you can) and sometimes the one lifted up (when you need to be).

As an aside, Rollins has also been a keen lifter of weights and famously said of the iron he lifted:

“The  Iron is the great reference point, the all knowing perspective giver. I have found the Iron to be  my greatest friend……..Friends may come and go but two hundred pounds is always two hundred pounds.”

I agree…what gets lifted, and what lifts us up … is the Truth.

Shift Yr Narrative : Comment

by Ebb Then Flood

I hope that the pictures in the preceding post ‘Shift Yr Narrative’ tell a story, or perhaps two stories, of one subject ,on their own. But since I am talking about narratives I will add some words as well….

A narrative is the description of a thing or event from a certain perspective. It can be as sweeping  as an entire world view or, in the telling of a tale, merely a different narrator ,tense or location, for example.

So, what does it take to shift the narrative in our own lives?

A momentous event of change;maybe a crisis of some sort ?

Or perhaps changing  the tense of our story, so that we do not live in the past ,or in  a future yet to arrive ,but in the present?

What would our life look like if we fully authored it and not allowed the manuscript to be ghostwritten by others?

And, can multiple narratives of our lives each be true, wholly or in part?

Many questions and no right answers – but if our lives are not unfolding as we think they ought to be ,and that uncomfortable reality cannot otherwise be altered  , maybe changing it around and taking another  perspective will assist us to move on.

Shift yr narrative!