Isn’t it amazing how a single word can become invested with so very much meaning? Marketers know this; good writers know it too.

Let’s play a little game here. I’ll say a single word, and see what emotions, memories, or whatever, comes up in your brain – sorta like a word association thing.

Ready? Let’s play! Here’s my word: Sunset

Now; while you’re thinkin’ (sound of grinding gears), I’ll tell you what it means to me.

An Unforgettable Sunset

Have you ever been privileged to witness a truly unforgettable sunset? Yep; probably several, right? But if I had to pick just one as the best, this would be the one…

I sat in a simple folding chaise lounge on the western coast of the tiny Caribbean island of Aruba. The precise location was at the northern end of Eagle Beach, right up next to a grove of wild Divi-Divi trees. Armed with eyes and mind and camera, I was prepared as best I could for the promise of an evening’s glorious display.

The barest shush-shush-shush of tiny wavelets lapped the rocky shoreline at my feet, gently cooling my bare toes and providing the only background music necessary for the upcoming vista. Playfully caressing my cheek, a soft breeze flowed gently westward as though irresistibly drawn by the rapidly westering sun.

Spread to a ruler-straight horizon like a vast expanse of delicately painted fabric, iridescent turquoise waters gradually dimmed their brilliance, like stage lights announcing the evening’s main event. The calm sea kissed, embraced, then finally consumed the sun in a magnificent, soundless roar as it disappeared below the horizon with the inevitability of Time.

At last, the sun’s final beams began to work their wondrous magic across a slowly darkening sky. Like an exclamation point, a fitting juxtaposition of sailboat and radial rays punctuated the growing lambent display which now graced the sky.

Within minutes, the majestic ballet began as clouds transformed from plain shades of white and grey to multicolored flame dancers across the vault of heaven. Billowy cumulus, stacked low on the horizon, glowed with brilliant overlapping outlines of silver and gold. Above them delicate cirrus brush strokes sketched themselves in magnificent neon blazes as if on a gigantic canvas.

I watched, stunned, as the displays became in equal parts brighter and more breathtaking. A counterpoint of purple- and red-lined clouds underlaid themselves across flaming, high-altitude displays as they drifted unhurriedly across the scene. Rays of glowing, pastel tones lent their bouquets of color to the sky in rapturous wonder.

Like a whisper, the incredible symphony of light and color eventually ebbed away, leaving only stars in its wake. Night’s sultry veil silently cloaked all as the day came to a final and joyous close.

Stirring The Inner Poet

Y’know, practically every time I see a great sunset, I can’t help but recall that particular evening back in Aruba. It was, without a doubt, the most spectacular one I’ve ever had the privilege to witness.

I’ll tell ya; despite the years gone by it remains as vivid as ever. It was breathtaking. It was magnificent. It was… in fact, whatever skill I have with words is simply inadequate to describe the magnificent glory I witnessed that day.

As the evening drew to a close, though, I found myself reflecting on the amazing bounty of Creation, and all that we humans have been given to enjoy. After a few more moments, these few lines came, unbidden, to mind:

The heavens declare the glory of God,
And the sky above proclaims his handiwork.
Day to day pours out speech,
And night to night reveals knowledge…
Their voice goes out through all the earth,
And their words to the end of the world.

- from Psalm 19

Does a great sunset do anything for you? Cause you to grab your camera? Bring out the poet, or the writer, the maybe even the playwright within? Perhaps even inspire adjective-laden blathering? Does the sight of a magnificent sunset bring any favorite lines, quotes, or writings to mind?

If so, then by all means share ‘em, won’t you?

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Photos:

Flame Dance, by Robert Hruzek

Aruba Sunset, by Robert Hruzek

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If you spend any time at all online, chances are you’re networked with at least a few folks, right? Maybe even a whole herd of ‘em, for that matter.

In fact, I bet if you were to draw a picture of your network, it’d look a little like this big ol’ snarl o’ wires, right? That’s ‘cause personal networks have a tendency to grow in all kinds of unexpected directions.

Three of the best things about being connected to so many others, though, are 1) the practically unlimited possibilities to interact with folks from across the globe, 2) the opportunities for lots of lively conversations, and – here it comes – 3) the chance to build a genuine sense of community.

So I have two questions for ya. First, are you part of an online community? Chances are you’re in several at least. Do you post photos at Flickr? Have a Facebook page? Publish a blog? Then congratulations, you’re in a community!

For instance, I myself happen to have a Flickr account, a LinkedIn page, a Facebook page (although I admit I don’t spend much time at that one), the community here at the Middle Zone, a Twitter account… not to mention the many blogs I drop by and comment on – thereby becoming part of their communities – I mean, the list just goes on and on. And the fact is, I’ve gained quite a bit from each and every one of ‘em.

So, my next question is this: What have you learned from your communities?

And that leads us up to… the topic for our next What I Learned From… groupwrite project! (Pretty smooth how I sneaked it right up behind ya, huh?)

Anyhoo – if you’ve never heard of WILF, then click on that last link up there and you can read all about it, not to mention check out some of the 650 entries we’ve racked up since May ‘07. That’s what the man said – 650!

On the other hand, if you already know what WILF is (and perhaps have even participated once or twice), then get ready to rumble write, y’all, ‘cause the fun is about to begin!

Hey, whatever you do, be sure to drop by right here at the Zone next Monday, May the 7^th May the 4th for the kickoff (oops! apparently, I can’t read a calendar properly)! Oh, and once again, I’ll have yet another free copy of Problogger: Secrets to Blogging Your Way to a Six-figure Income for one lucky participant!

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Question: Do predetermined pathways dictate – or inhibit growth? Can they do both? Neither? What do you think?

Something I saw the other day made me think about these and a few related questions for a bit (which probably explains that gosh-awful noise you’ve been hearing lately).

On the Grid

Located right next to of one of my favorite local beaneries (Café Express in The Woodlands), there’s this geometric metal grid. It’s nothing special; merely an array of black-painted, square metal rods mounted on a wall. The building’s surface behind it is slightly bowed, causing shifting shadows from the afternoon sun to create a subtly-changing pattern within the rigid, perpendicular lines.

A vine, just beginning its quest for world domination, grows along the bars – first geysering vertically upward, then slithering horizontally outward. Its delicate, questing tips flow in a continuous snakelike spiral around the metal rods, seeking their boundaries as all living organisms tend to do.

Have you ever watched a climbing vine take over a trellis? As a pastime, it’s about as exciting as watching your hair grow, I’ll tell ya. But still… vines are ‘waaaay more interesting.

They initially follow paths created by the structural members of the trellis itself. You’ll see little questing tendrils twining ‘round the bars, always heading upward and outward. In short order they thicken, and leaves appear along the strands. Occasionally a new stem pops out, going in yet another direction, all of ‘em racing away from the center of growth like an exploding green star – in slow-motion, of course.

Back at the heart of the mass of greenery, where the most mature growth is, you’ll eventually see the vines and leaves thicken until they begin to extend outside the directions initially dictated by the trellis itself. Soon, given time and the right conditions, there’ll be nothing visible of the framework that may (or may not) still hold the whole shebang upright.

Fruit of the Vine

C’mon, show of hands: Whenever you encounter limitations or boundaries – or have your pathways dictated for you – don’t you tend to become prone to the three R’s: Rant, Rave & Resist? But (and here’s the $64,295,176 question) then what do you do?

After wracking my brain for a few minutes (sound of brain, being wracked) I came up with several possible responses – fruit, if you will, of this particular vine of thought:

Stop – We can simply come to a stop, forgoing further growth in that particular direction. Is this a valid choice? Well, the answer is a most definite, “It depends.” Often we glibly forge ahead as if boundaries don’t matter. But sometimes it’s appropriate to stop going in a certain direction, isn’t it? Only you can determine if (or when) that point is reached, of course. Hey, all I’m sayin’ is, limits aren’t necessarily a bad thing; they may turn out to be a point beyond which it is not good to pass! (The edge of a 1,000-foot cliff comes to mind…) But is coming to a halt and growing no more the best choice?

Turn Back – You could, of course, turn around and go back. I mean, now that you’ve found your boundary, why try to go beyond it, anyway? After all, there’s plenty to seek and understand – and even explore – within the core of your own universe, right? Besides, there’s a certain vigor to be gained in growing bigger and stronger “within the core”, if you get my meanin’. But there’s an inherent danger of becoming “ingrown” if we turn back upon ourselves.

Change Direction – Just because you’ve hit a wall doesn’t mean you can’t keep growing. After all, there’s plenty of other directions you can choose other than going back the way you came. By fully exploring the boundary, you just may find a way around it. That’s how most people cross a river, by exploring in both directions until they find the best way, right? Nothing wrong with that. Besides, it’s still a new and unexplored path, filled with opportunity.

Upon further reflection (yet more grinding), there’s yet another choice, wouldn’t ya say?

Bust Through – There are certainly times when the right choice really is to bust right through that ol’ barrier and just keep on goin’. After all, human history is filled with great examples of that one. I mean, where would innovation and invention be if “beyond this point there be dragons” were the absolute last word on anything?

Ya Pays Yer Money and Ya Makes Yer Choices

Now, having carefully built the trellis and delineated the boundaries of choice for you here, it sorta begs yet another couple of questions, doesn’t it?

Let’s say you’ve encountered a limitation of some kind lately. (I know; it never happens to you. If that’s the case – pretend.) Now, which of the four options did you choose and – and perhaps more importantly – why?

OR… is there yet another option I failed to mention?

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Photos:

Geometric Growth 1, by Robert Hruzek

Spiral, by Robert Hruzek

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If one eats pizza from the round end first instead of the pointy end, could it mark the end of life as we know it? That’s the Question Of The Ages: Is there, in fact, a “wrong” way to eat pizza?

The reason the question comes up at all is because of a little-known incident that happened at last year’s SOBCon08.

Now, if we can color you intrigued by the above introduction – well, you’ll have to pop on over to the SOBCon blog to read the story. All ya gotta do is follow this handy link.

Don’t worry; I’ll still be here when ya come back!

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Photo: Blogging Buddies, by Joanna Young

Yours Truly, Joanna Young & Brad Shorr @ SOBCon08

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It’s certainly tempting, isn’t it? During those long cold months, to look around and see Winter’s grip on this old world and think Ugh; how depressing is this?

But if you stop there, you’ll miss something important.

Brown, Brown Everywhere

My flight wasn’t really all that long – only a few hours. I was on my way back to Houston from Denver – after spending a few days in Durango, Colorado. (Did that make sense? Yes? Good.)

I spent a few moments looking out the window, surprised at how different the landscape was than around Durango. I mean, Durango is pretty much surrounded by snow-covered mountains (it was February, after all), and is a beautifully scenic spot.

Now, flyin’ outta Denver, once in the air you’d expect to see mountains, right? (I guess you would if you flew in another direction.) But almost immediately upon leaving Denver, the first thing that greeted my eyes were miles and miles of this dismal-lookin’ stretch of land – nothin’ but brown, dead earth as far as the eye can see. Oh, there’s a few spots of green here and there, but it was mostly, well, a whole lotta nothin’. To tell you the truth, it was actually kinda depressing.

But then I got to ruminating about it (as I am wont to do every now and then) – what was I really seein’ out there?

Not Dead, Just Dormant

Is it really a scene of complete lifelessness? Of course not! No, it’s merely a – well, a snapshot, taken at one point in the continuing cycle of growth and abundance. I mean, every year it’s the same story: Spring, Summer, Fall and Winter. Next year (assuming the Lord tarries and the creek don’t rise), it’ll happen all over again, right?

The ironic thing is, without one season, there will hardly be another. Yup, that’s right; without the dormancy of late Fall, or of Winter’s bleakness, the land won’t have a chance to “rest”. And without that, most plants won’t germinate or even grow properly, either. In fact, that cycle is built into just about everything organic on this ol’ planet.

Oh, I know it’s a lot more complicated than that. But still, I think you get the picture, right? Any way you slice it, it’s pretty amazing, don’cha think?

So, after a few moments of contemplation (sound of gears grinding), I realized I wasn’t looking at desolation out there. No, what I was really seeing was – promise!

And that’s just all right by me!

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Photo: Dormant, by Robert Hruzek

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There’s just something about a great sunrise that just, I dunno, gives the day that extra-special je ne se quois, don’cha think? (Je ne se quois is a French expression that roughly translates to ooh-la-la, or something like that. On the other hand, since I don’t speak French, for all I know it could mean please direct me to the bathroom.)

For example, this one greeted me the other morning, and it was so inspiring I just had to pull over, whip out my cell phone (gives me a chance to practice the ol’ quick draw, don’cha know) and take this intriguing shot. Those power lines seem to be coming right out of the sunrise, as if relaying the power generated by the Sun, don’t they?

In a way, it kinda clicked with my mood. Well, to be more accurate, the sight of this incredible sunrise actually lifted my mood. Oh, don’t get me wrong; it wasn’t like I was down in the dumps or anything. It’s just that the sight sorta, well, inspired me, y’know?

Inspirational Moment

As I sat in my car, contemplating the spectacularly colorful display (alas, my phone’s camera doesn’t quite capture the truly amazing iridescence of the actual scene), I found myself unconsciously sitting straigher, breathing deeper, and even experiencing a definite rise in optimism from deep within myself. (The final irony? It also happened to be Tax Day – the day we here in the U.S. better have our taxes filed with Uncle Sam – or else!)

Nevertheless, it was truly a moving moment. I quietly reflected about all the times past when I woulda simply driven to work, not even noticing the scenery around me. And it wasn’t that long ago, either.

Blinders No More

One of my favorite outcomes from writing regularly here at the Zone is the fact that I’ve become a far more observant person than I used to be. Hey, no joke; this is serious! It used to be pretty common for me not to notice anything. I mean, I lived in my own little world, and that was pretty much it, y’know?

But nowadays, I’m even noticing little things – and what’s worse, finding meaning in them. Yikes! (That was the basis for my Sidewalk Series back in February – check ‘em out if you want to see what I mean.) Even so, it’s pretty amazing, when I think about it. I mean, even something as mundane – and tedious – as a drive to work has now become this amazing adventure in real life, y’know? And I gotta say, I like it!

How about you? Do you sometimes find yourself plodding along like an ol’ farm horse with blinders on – only able to see the road directly ahead? Have you ever stopped right in the middle of whatever you’re doing (unless it’s, like, driving a car or sumpin’ like that – don’t do that!) and took the time to really look around and see what’s there?

Try it; you might be surprised at what you’ll discover. In fact, I highly recommend you purpose to do it for an hour – or a full day. Trust me; you’ll be positively amazed at what you encounter. And hey, if you do, lemme know how it works for ya!

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Photo: Power from the Sun, by Robert Hruzek

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For today’s adventure you’ll have to take a little side trip to Scrambled Toast, the brainchild (or is it brain warp?) of fellow wordsmith Brad Shorr of Word Sell fame and fortune. Well, at least fame, anyway.

You’re familiar with the fact that culture, language, or even whether you’re a PC or a Mac can affect the way you perceive the world around us. Well, this time I contemplate how something as simple as one’s specific location can dramatically alter how we perceive a message.

Drop on by and join me, won’t you?

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