it can be found through the twist of a camera lens. or the turn of the age dial. or the easy childhood you had. or the difficult time you went through. or if you’re employed. or if you’re a man. or if you’re a teenager. or if you’re lonely. or if you’re in love. or if you ran there. or if you took the first left instead of right.
for whatever reasons got us to this point, it’s given us all a unique perspective. we can experience the same event and come away with different conclusions. we can taste the same meal and simultaneously shudder in delight and disgust. we can smell the same flower and want to sniff again or sneeze and pull back. we can hear the same song and laugh or cry. we can touch the same water and either dive in or run away laughing. we can see the same mountain and be comforted or challenged.
that last one actually happened. kristen saw that mountain in lake como and thought this.
i saw it and felt comforted.
why?
because it was always there. every morning. strong. solid. sturdy. stunning. it was waiting for me to walk out onto the porch so it could make me smile. every afternoon. the houses bordering the base, tempting the mountain, urging it to disagree with the civilization. the trees still grew, filling in the picture, outlining its vast size. the rocks reflected the sunshine making the white spots gleam like a hollywood startlet’s mouth. every night. giving the setting sun a backdrop. providing an audience for the twinkling stars.
i was introduced to that mountain at a time where i felt lost (directionally and emotionally) and confused and homesick. but every morning, noon, and night, there it was. unchanging except for the shadows that danced in the revolving sunlight. i would see that mountain and know i was near home. a temporary home. but one that was safe and modern and new and filled with two girls who opened their vacation and let me slip into their hugs hello.
that mountain shows how steady mother nature is. and when you’re feeling lost, isn’t it just like a mother to send a source of comfort?
Abigail Mumford 
Beautiful post. :) And you’re right–perspective is everything.
thank you! the more i listen to others, the more i learn. I LOVE IT.
I love your point about how each one of us can view the exact same thing, or taste the exact same thing and be changed by it yet differently. That is how I feel everyday. I am such a lucky girl.
you are as lucky as you are wise.
Abby, this is great. I loved reading this. Thank you for sharing.
thank you for reading! and commenting!
great post my dear! glad you were able to join us in Como to meet that big old mountain. i still want to conquer it though…
i just love how differently we saw it. thank you for writing your post that inspired me to write mine.