Me, My Heart, and I

by Melinda Gallo

Appreciating beauty even more

Saturday, April 6, 2013

I have only been away for two weeks and yet Florence has dramatically changed in that time. When I left, it was still cold and rainy, the streets were virtually empty, and the city was still in its winter slumber. As my taxi drove me through the centro (center) this evening, I was surprised by the crowds of people, the warm air, the bright sun, and the sweet smell of spring. As soon as I got home, I dropped my bags, and I went out for a walk around my beloved city.

When I am in France, I am definitely in a different mode. I have a harmonious life in my new relationship and focus more on my work than on my writing projects. It’s when I return to Florence that I realize that I need to find a balance between my work and my writing. Each time I return to Florence, my writing gets rekindled. The city’s energy nurtures and inspires me.

I can’t help but take photos of my beloved city when I am here. There is something magical about capturing its charm just as the sun hits it in a certain way. It’s almost like admiring the beauty of a lover; the profile of his face or the look in his eyes strikes a chord deep in my heart.

I wonder sometimes why I can’t have everything in Florence: my love life, my friends, and my work. But it’s almost as if I am being nudged to open my horizons more and to experience more in the time I have. My life in France has taught me a lot about appreciating people and things that I took for granted before.

One of the things I am most grateful for is the appreciation of beauty. I now value the kind of beauty that bubbles up from my heart and inspires me. I take photos when I am touched by the way the sunbeams through the clouds or the way shapes converge together. It’s easy to take photos of Florence because its beauty is so apparent, but I try to capture what moves me in the moment.

I am lucky not only to surround myself with such beauty, but also to never tire of it either. I plan on enjoying my time in Florence, basking in its glow, capturing the charm I feel, and filling up on its energy.

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