Seeing Autumn in The Silicon Valley

Point to Ponder: There is beauty wherever we have the ability to see it; for beauty lies in the one that experiences it.--Sujat Shah

Story Line: A week ago while observing some of the majestic, autumnal colors on the trees on our street; I told my wife, “come out and look outside. There are beautiful autumn colors in the neighborhood.” She smiled and wondered aloud, “where have you been all these years? They have been here every autumn for last 20 years that we have lived here. ”Autumn In Silicon Valley

Newly Awakened, I drove around the Silicon Valley looking at the same things I had many times before, but started seeing them differently. Whenever I am travelling to different places and see such an immense beauty, I unleash the capability of my camera to its fullest and take many photos. So in order to be fair and nonpartial, I went around the neighborhood and let my camera roll. (except for the photos of Golden Gate Bridge and two subsequent ones, the rest of the photos are from the Silicon Valley.)

Reflection: This encounter reminded me of a reflection three years ago (Better than the Best) when a fellow traveler in Fiji asked us which place was the best amongst all we had been in the world. Below are a few paragraphs from that reflection.

My wife and I reflected on this encounter in the evening over dinner. We recalled every destination we have been to in last six months and all of them had beautiful places, cultures and people. A pattern emerged as all too often we would ask ourselves in each new place, “Can there be a place better than this?” And when the next encounter came, we wondered the same thing.

This feeling did not go away once we returned home and went to the marshlands in Palo Alto. My wife and I watched as this white egret glided past us, rising higher over the marsh, and into the distance against a spectacular view of the San Francisco Bay. It was free, it was graceful, and it was beautiful. And for a quiet moment we both just watched… Once it was gone, I finally had my answer. I turned to my wife and said, “This place. This is the best. Right here and right now…”

“Only later do we realize, in the next encounter, that beauty is everywhere in this world all around you: in nature, in cultures, and in people. If we can get in harmony with the present.”

Comments

[Madhuri]

There is no place like home :)

[Prasad Vepa]

You’re spot on, Anand! An observing eye, a reflective mind and a grateful heart help immeasurably in appreciating the beauty that is right in front of us.

[bobby]

beautiful!

[Gaby]

Thanks for the reflection indeed the present is a wonderful 🎁

[Mina]

Wow beautiful colors right at your doorsteps! The video is very well done! Bravo!

[Evelyn Tan]

Beauty is the feeling of peace n wonder.for anyone who are ready to feel it... we feel it now cz we are older..wiser..slowing dwn frm the rat race.

[Selina Saw]

Zen..enjoy every moment n the surroundings

[FE]

True. Beauty is everywhere! 😊

[Kay Kim]

Wonderful Scene. I have something in myself. but hard to release after you.

[Robert Eddy]

That is Pretty.

[Karen]

So beautiful!

[Humble Warrior]

A few from the wise:

"Home is not a place... it's a feeling"

"A house is made with walls and beams... a home is made with love and dreams"

"What I love most about my home... is who I share it with"

[Sujat]

Thank u. Putting my name in ur reflection was something a lot more than I probably deserve and what I was anticipating!

The whole reflection is a joy to read, for more than about explorations to various lovely places, I found it to be about internal awareness.

I say so because - It is in the moment when we are most aware of our innate self that we find an experience most uplifting. Such an experience may be anywhere. (U have mentioned this in a different way below....)

And for a [quiet] [moment] we both [just watched…] Once it was gone, I finally had my answer. I turned to my wife and said, “This place. This is the best. [Right here] and [right now…]”

(And putting away the camera facilitates the intimate experience.)