Gobbling Beauty.

I love this. I love Mary Karr who wrote this! Gobbling--what a fantastic word choice. Filling up, chugging, speeding--so quick that some flavor is lost, testing the sharpness of teeth, tearing apart or swallowing whole, untamed need, hunger consuming the body, desire & rage and finally quiet.

It makes me think of the wolf inhaling Little Red Riding Hood.

So how can we gobble beauty?

• Literally gobble beauty at a fancy or quirky restaurant or bakery.
• Go to an art museum. Go alone or with a very patient companion. Keep your eyes sharp and touch what you can. Bring a sketchpad or notebook to save fragments of the experience.
• Your home is probably full of art and objects you once found beautiful. If that's not true, get to work on it! If it is true, treat your home like an art museum for a bit. Where did you get this? What did you save for, receive as a gift, or hang on a wall despite a partner's protests? Write down the story. Whhy did you first find this beautiful? Do you find it beautiful now? How often do you notice it? How can you feast on beauty right in view of your bed or couch?
• Go to a gift shop and touch the most beautiful objects. How do texture and temperature change your perception of an object?
• Add music to your workout, morning routines, and chores.
• Watch fireworks. Listen to street musicians. Don't miss a single chance to consume beauty.