Amber Waves: Admitting You Don't Know Is the Key to Growth
“The eye should learn to listen before it looks.” - Robert Frank
Mahatma Gandhi, best known for his contribution to the Indian Independence Movement through non-violent resistance, once taught us to, “Live as if you were to die tomorrow. Learn as if you were to live forever.”
Stunning as it seems, Gandhi speaks two Stoic truths here. The first is memento mori, to remember our deaths are inevitable and unpredictable, so we should live as though it's our last moments on earth, with our words and actions fitting how we desire to be remembered.
The second is that we need to keep learning all through our days. As soon as we either think we know it all or that we cease being intellectually curious, we are essentially done. We will progress no further. And sadly, I almost fell into that trap with this this week's photograph. Fortunately, I remembered my Epictetus, as I wrote about in my post from March 26, 2022...
The ancient Greek Stoic philosopher Epictetus taught us that, “It is impossible for a man to learn what he thinks he already knows.”
When I saw this surreal scene, I was blown away by the incredible glow across the entire frame from the setting sun, but wondered if there was perhaps just too much orange. But after considering it for some weeks, I realized I really wanted to share just how amazing that evening was, and the added details of branches, leaves, and pampas puffs brings that necessary something for the eye to hang onto. I thought I knew what was acceptable as a finished image, and learned I almost missed out on showing this to you.
The lesson: Always keep an open mind.
Clicking on the image will open it in full screen
‘Amber Waves,’ the stunning view out across the feather-soft marsh of the southernmost tip of the DelMarVa peninsula, on a lovely sunset evening.
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