Contrast

There is nothing quite like contrast in one's life. Yesterday I was down, but not out, with a headache that was ever so resilient. No matter what I did - or didn't do - for the first ten hours was of no consequence. It was here to stay. But even the boldest of headaches are eventually cowed by enough drugs! I am glad that I have given this particular version of the ailment as much exposure as I have - it is worthy! Two doctors, two shots and eventually it surrendered.

And today, my friends want me to wander in the hills nearby - essentially, we plan to be 'on top of the world'. Contrast.

Yesterday the sky was a brilliant blue, the sun was doing it's best to make sure that everyone and everything was warm and toasty. Or perhaps, if possible, really hot!

Today, mist at my front door. Contrast.

How can we know what we really want or appreciate, if we do not get to look at the other end of that particular scale. Hot / cold. Peace / violence. Love / fear. We need to look at the whole menu if we are to make informed choices in our lives. How can we know what is on offer for dessert if we only see the starter menu?

We do not personally have to experience what we do not want. We can be cognisant of the choices others are making and learn from observing. To a degree, of course.

I have a friend who looks after children. She has climbed the rungs of hierarchy in that profession. She commands top dollar jobs. She has gone from au pair to nanny to governess. To the children of one of the leading families on this Earth. She is constantly surrounded by wealth and power. And she has a clear idea of how she will choose to bring up her children. She has seen the contrast of her close, loving, empowering upbringing to the relatively distant relationship her charges have with their parents. The children get everything they can possibly want - and then some more. And what do they desire? The relationship that the governess has with her parents.
Contrast.

So what are you choosing today? Have you checked the whole smorgasbord?