“If You Change the Way You Look at Things, the Things You Look at Will Change” — Wayne Dyer
See things differently to discover hidden opportunities and beauty…
The rain poured down, soaking Aria’s sketchbook and turning the pages into a soggy mess. She sat on a park bench, staring at the ruined drawings with a mix of frustration and despair. Aria, a twenty-year-old painter, had spent countless nights hunched over her easel, her brush dancing across the canvas, creating worlds from her imagination.
Her art was her voice, her escape, and her way of seeing the world. Aria had hoped to capture the essence of the city for her upcoming gallery show. But now, they were nothing more than a wash of blurred lines and smudged colors.
Aria’s fingers traced the waterlogged paper, her mind swirling with thoughts of giving up. The world seemed determined to drown her dreams. She watched people rush by, their umbrellas bobbing in the rain, each one a stark contrast to her motionless state. A sense of hopelessness enveloped her.
Suddenly, she heard the soft, melodic strains of a violin cutting through the steady patter of rain. Curious, she looked up and saw a violinist playing under a small awning near a café. The man, dressed in a simple black coat, seemed oblivious to the weather, completely absorbed in his music.
Aria watched as a small crowd gathered, drawn by the hauntingly beautiful melody. The violinist played with such passion and intensity that it seemed as though the rain itself was dancing to his tune. Mesmerized, Aria found herself drawn to the scene. She walked closer, feeling the rain run down her face, mingling with her tears of frustration.
As she stood there, the music wrapped around her like a comforting blanket. She noticed how the raindrops seemed to shimmer in the air, each one catching the light in a unique way. The reflections on the wet pavement created a dreamlike landscape, transforming the ordinary city street into something magical.
Aria’s gaze shifted to the violinist’s face. Despite the challenging conditions, he played with a serene smile, his eyes closed as if he were in another world. The rain did not deter him; instead, it seemed to enhance his performance, adding a layer of depth and emotion to his music.
Inspired by the scene before her, Aria pulled out her sketchbook and began to draw. She captured the fluidity of the violinist’s movements, the way his fingers danced on the strings, and the serene expression on his face. She sketched the reflections in the puddles, the way the light played off the raindrops, and the captivated expressions of the onlookers.
For the next hour, Aria sketched furiously, losing herself in the moment. She captured the beauty and emotion of the scene, with each stroke of her pencil infused with the newfound perspective she had gained. The rain-soaked paper added an unexpected texture, turning her drawing into a mix of deliberate strokes and natural chaos.
When the violinist finished his piece, the small crowd erupted in applause. Aria looked up, her heart swelling with gratitude. The violinist opened his eyes and met her gaze, giving her a knowing smile. She approached him, her sketchbook clutched to her chest.
“Thank you,” she said, her voice trembling. “Your music… It made all the difference.” The violinist nodded with kind eyes. “Music, like life, is all about viewpoint. Rain can be a disturbance or a charming background. It’s how you choose to see it.”
Aria realized that the violinist had given her more than just beautiful music — he had given her a new way to see the world. She packed up her soggy sketchbook, feeling a renewed sense of purpose.
Days later, Aria’s new series of sketches was displayed at the gallery. The response was overwhelming. Critics and visitors alike were captivated by the unique perspective and emotional depth of her work. Aria’s paintings were no longer just about capturing reality; they were about transforming it, revealing the hidden beauty in everyday moments.
One painting depicted a street vendor under a colorful umbrella, steam rising from his cart and mingling with the rain. Another showed a couple sharing a quiet moment under a single umbrella, their faces close together as they walked through the rain. Yet another captured the violinist playing under the awning, with the raindrops creating a mesmerizing backdrop.
Aria learned that perspective truly mattered. By changing the lens through which she viewed her challenges, she discovered a world of opportunities waiting to be unveiled. And as she stood in the gallery, surrounded by her art, she knew that this lesson would stay with her forever.
The lesson of this story is to see life through a positive lens. Although some things are beyond our control, our perspective isn’t. Even when faced with adversity, there is always something positive to focus on. With this outlook, you can see hidden opportunities and beauty.