Photo Challenge: Our Place In the World

“Never stop fighting until you arrive at your destined place – that is, the unique you. Have an aim in life, continuously acquire knowledge, work hard, and have perseverance to realize the great life.” A. P. J. Abdul Kalam

Photo Challenge: Our Place In the World

It is nice finding that place where you can just go and relax. Moises Arias
Be kind, don’t judge, and have respect for others. If we can all do this, the world would be a better place. The point is to teach this to the next generation. Jasmine Guinness
Be brave enough to live life creatively. The creative place where no one else has ever been. Alan Alda

The more I thought about this week’s theme, Place In the World, the more I felt it was not one particular destination but the many parts that make up the whole. We are made up of our multifaceted experiences and those inform our place in the world…. it is a life long journey that evolves over time.  It changes, it flourishes, it stagnates, it withers away… we all play our role and impact each others lives with our actions. I’m sharing a mixture of collages that speak to that global connection we all share. Even my collage of collages is incomplete. There are aspects of my place in this world that I did not include so, should I create yet another collage within a collage to include food, music, fitness and friendships?

What about my love of the written word and my inner life? We can only show so much and then the rest can be inferred or left to rest. It is very much like life itself. We pick up pieces, here and there, and discard a few along the way or swap them for shiny new objects or relationships that grow or die. The rebel in us might venture from the straight and narrow road for a long walk off the beaten path. Along the way, we might find love and laughter or languish in the debris of our stalled or broken dreams. Yes, our place in the world includes all of the above … and more. Wherever you believe you belong, the journey begins within.

My Place, Your Place, Our Place. – Poem by Shannon Nicole
Imagining a perfect world,
No rules, no mistakes.
Just everything we want,
All laid out and pretty.
No one hates in this perfect world,
Only likeable, friendly peers.
If only there was this secret place,
To set up this imaginary place.
If only there was a group of positives,
That would help create this new experience.
If only we could be those likeable, friendly people,
Then maybe we could live in that perfect world.

“Blessed are they who see beautiful things in humble places where other people see nothing.” Camille Pissarro

Photo Challenge: Our Place In the World

The planet is a vast and beautiful place, full of exciting and wonderful people. Ashlan Gorse Cousteau
I have the same feeling when I walk in a very beautiful place that I have when I play and it goes right. Jacqueline du Pre
And, obviously, as one who likes to travel around myself a lot, I think the Earth is a beautiful place. And, I’m looking forward to some new perspectives. Duane G. Carey

Each of us occupies a unique place in this world and we matter to someone. While we might not all be celebrities with fantastic lives or clout chase to become “relevant,” our place in this world has value. I just learned clout chase from someone I admire for their upbeat energy and creativity.  The artiste, half of a popular hip-hop/rap duo, was saying that he didn’t need to chase after certain in-crowd or “the right” people to matter.  I agree with that observation as we all bring something of value, in small and large ways, to this planet.   As I gathered my photos to create collages of some of the facets of my life, I was reminded of a song that I used to play a lot when it came out. It’s Jill Scott’s  A Long Walk.  The video shows her walking through her neighborhood in Philly as she sings of bonding in a special relationship.

The song, A Long Walk,  resonates well with this topic because we also find our place in our relationships and our loved ones. We find our place in the long walk we take through life. It is not linear. It meanders, it veers off course, it hits the tarmac at full speed, and it settles into a familiar rhythm as we journey through. As Rumi points out below, we are all guests here and welcoming/serving/supporting each other is a fundamental part of being human and alive. I’m sharing the video in this post and the lyrics  at the bottom of the post page, just before my credits. Enjoy it and may your journey be rich with adventure and delightful moments.

The Guest House by Jalaluddin Rumi
This being human is a guest house.
Every morning a new arrival.
A joy, a depression, a meanness,
Some momentary awareness comes
As an unexpected visitor.
Welcome and entertain them all!
Even if they’re a crowd of sorrows,
Who violently sweep your house
Empty of its furniture,
Still, treat each guest honorably.
He may be clearing you out
For some new delight.
The dark thought, the shame, the malice,
Meet them at the door laughing,
And invite them in.
Be grateful for whoever comes,
Because each has been sent,
As a guide from beyond.

More Below

If you are in a beautiful place where you can enjoy sunrise and sunset, then you are living like a lord. Nathan Phillips

Photo Challenge: Our Place In the World

Photo Challenge: Our Place In the World

Take care of your body. It’s the only place you have to live. Jim Rohn
When you leave a beautiful place, you carry it with you wherever you go. Alexandra Stoddard
Try to leave the Earth a better place than when you arrived. Sidney Sheldon

Where is your place in this world? What is your narrative and how does it translate into the life you are currently living? It’s amazing how life propels us forward even as we protest to maintain the status quo. I started this post on the 9th (the anniversary of my father’s death). I paused, got caught up in other drama, returned to see that I wrote gibberish while half asleep. Deleted some of it, amended the rest of it, and now I am working on completing the post. It is just like the story of our lives; we experience ups and downs, turn arounds, and all sorts of convoluted detours on our path. Some lead us back to our purpose while others might lead us astray.

No matter where we begin, our final destination remains a mystery of sorts. Sure, there are goals we set and achieve but, life is much more than our goals. I’m still working on my collage within a collage to include music and food… who knows what else will demand to be included in that collage. I’ll upload it when ready. In the meantime, we end up where we are supposed to meet with our agreed upon destiny; just like the character in The Appointment in Samarra, our path to our place in the world culminates in our version of Samarra. You don’t have to agree with me… What is your narrative? Where do you belong? We are more than our current destination.

Our House by Sophie Cabot Black
As the leaves turn their backs on us
And the lilac gives over to dusk, nothing
Is ever certain, not even the house, stubborn

In twilight as it outlasts the grove
It was wrestled from. Those left behind,
The oak and ancient elm, lean against each other

As if in consent. Out of dirt, out of
Some small mistake, comes the seedling;
It too has learned to watch, as we walk in and out

Of what wilderness was, and will again become,
As we enter our home, the way we enter love
Returning from elsewhere to call out
Each other’s names, pulling the door closed behind us.

Jill Scott “A Long Walk”

A Long Walk by Jill Scott
You’re here, I’m pleased
I really dig your company
Your style, your smile, your peace mentality
Lord, have mercy on me
I was blind, now I can see
What a king’s supposed to be
Baby I feel free, come on and go with me
Let’s take a long walk around the park after dark
Find a spot for us to spark
Conversation, verbal elation, stimulation
Share our situations, temptations, education, relaxations
Elevations, maybe we can talk about Surah 31:18
Your background it ain’t squeaky clean (shit)
Sometimes we all got to swim upstream
You ain’t no saint, we all are sinners
But you put your good foot down and make your soul a winner
I respect that, man you’re so phat
And you’re all that, plus supreme
Then you’re humble man I’m numb
Yo with feeling, I can feel everything that you bring

Let’s take a long walk around the park after dark
Find a spot for us to spark
Conversation, verbal elation, stimulation
Share our situations, temptations, education, relaxations
Elevations, maybe we can talk about Revelation 3:17
Or maybe we can see a movie
Or maybe we can see a play on Saturday (Saturday)
Or maybe we can roll a tree and feel the breeze and listen to a symphony
Or maybe chill and just be, or maybe
Maybe we can take a cruise and listen to the Roots or maybe eat some passion fruit
Or maybe cry to the blues
Or maybe we could just be silent
Come on, Come on

Let’s take a long walk around the park after dark
Find a spot for us to spark
Conversation, verbal elation, stimulation
Share our situations, temptations, education, relaxations
Elevations, maybe we can talk about something entirely
Or maybe we can see a movie
Or maybe we can see a play on Saturday (Saturday)
Or maybe we can roll a tree and feel the breeze and listen to a symphony
Or maybe chill and just be, or maybe
Maybe we can take a cruise and listen to the Roots or maybe eat some passion fruit
Or maybe cry to the blues
Or maybe we could just be silent
Come on, Come on
Let’s take a long walk around the park after dark
Find a spot for us to spark
Conversation, verbal elation, stimulation
Share our situations, temptations, education, relaxations
Elevations, maybe baby, maybe we can save the nation
Come on, Come on
Songwriters: Andre Harris / Jill H. Scott
A Long Walk lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group

This post was inspired by a prompt from WP Daily Post:  – Place In the World – For this week’s photo challenge, explore what it means to find your place in the world. Where’s your safe space? Where do you go when you need to feel inspired or cheered up? Do you prefer to feel cozy and comforted in a smaller town or do you thrive on the buzz of a big city? If landscapes aren’t your thing, you can even explore portraits by playing with scale or fashion. Let loose and give us a glimpse of who you are in the grand scheme of things.

Positive Motivation Tip: Wherever you believe you belong, the journey begins within.

PHOTO CREDITS/ATTRIBUTIONS: All Photos from my personal collection.

Until Next Time…
Ask. Believe. Receive. ©
Elizabeth Obih-Frank
Mirth and Motivation
Positive Kismet