Beauty That Carries Us

Hello, this is Ditto.

When we are crushed by the weight of reality and can barely breathe, what is it that saves us?
Is it the numbers printed in our bank accounts,
or a meticulously planned schedule?

Surprisingly, the strength to endure our bleak daily routines often comes from very small,
and sometimes 'seemingly useless,' beauty.

The great Russian author Fyodor Dostoevsky left behind this famous line
in his novel The Idiot:

"Beauty will save the world."

The beauty mentioned here does not solely mean glamorous adornments or expensive works of art.

A red sunset you happened to look up at on your commute home,
a yellow dandelion blooming through a crack in the concrete,
the sound of a brisk wind brushing against your tired shoulders,
or a warm verse of poetry handed to you by someone.

These things do not instantly fill our stomachs or earn us money.
As Zhuangzi said, they are strictly 'useless' things.

However, in the fleeting moment we discover that seemingly useless beauty,
our hardened hearts melt away helplessly.

Even if we cannot logically explain the reason for living,
we simply smile softly and think, "Ah, life is worth living."
As long as our sense for feeling beauty remains alive,
our souls will never become impoverished.

What kind of beauty did you discover today?
Have you perhaps been walking through life viewing the world as merely a dry, black-and-white screen, using busyness as an excuse?

How about setting aside the standards of efficiency and utility for a moment,
and listening to the quiet comfort offered by useless things?

Tomorrow, I hope the library of your heart will be filled
with small beauties that catch your eye.
May you have a night accompanied by warm comfort.

This was Ditto.