Just Another Saturday In Korea

I almost didn't take this picture.  I saw the leaf and passed it, deciding I didn't want to make my friends wait for me to get a picture of some tattered leaf that I would eventually discard with my hundreds of other pictures of tattered leaves.  But, for some reason, my gut told me to turn around a take the picture of this lifeless leaf.  So I did.  For several minutes.  I couldn't help but continue to find the absolute perfect angle of this leaf.  I tried the side angle, close-up angle, far away, blurred angle, but nothing made it look as beautiful as the straight on, in yo face angle.  

To some, this may just be another leaf.  Just one more fallen hero in the fight to keep this world beautiful.  Its outer exterior looks rough.  Almost as if it had been in a fight with the wind the night before.  It threw a punch, the wind knocked it on it's stem and pinned him down with just one gust.  The wind always wins, just for the record.  And yet, this leaf is still standing tall, showing its insecurities and scars for all the world to see.  To me, this leaf exudes strength.  It may look beaten and battered, but even in it's misfortune, it's still just as beautiful.  The color of this leaf is what attracted my eye in its direction.  Like the sunshine, it shines bright letting everyone know that it's strong and resilient.  Most everyone has gone through some type of stuggle in their life, but not everyone chooses to share their heartache, keeping it hidden away from the world and the people in it who love them.  This leaf represents perseverance and truth.  Even with all the holes, this leaf is still managing to stay together, never crumbling under the pressure of this harsh world.  You may find yourself standing with holes on every inch of your body, holes that need to be filled.  It's easy to let them get bigger, never trying to fix them but rather allowing them to take over your life without acknowledging them.  Just like my struggle in finding the proper angle to exemplify the true beauty of this leaf, it's time people face their struggles straight on.  It may not be pretty, but more often than not, you'll end up looking in the mirror, holeless and shining bright.  Scars aren't meant to be sad, they're meant to show strength, perseverance, and hope.  Some may say this leaf is just another wilted casualty, but I can't help but see a beautiful, vibrant, struggling soul just like the rest of us.  And to think I almost didn't capture this beauty.  

Stay true, stay real. 

H.