damsel in distress...

Illustration by Henri Faivre

Sometimes, when things are going along just swimmingly, there may, at some point, be something which appears altogether wrong/ out of place/ not in sync. I'm trying hard not to focus on such things. For instance, if I walk into a room which is perfectly clean and tidy, it may, perchance, come to my attention that there is a painting on the wall which is slightly askew. Now, if the room were a disaster, would I have noticed? Probably not; I'd probably be too busy noticing some other more bothersome annoyance. So this is what I'm trying to teach myself to remember. When, sometimes, there is some very irksome thing, think, why is that so bothersome? And the answer is... because it's not in harmony with the whole. Why is it not in harmony with the whole? Because it is a wrong in a room full of right. Seriously, you can't expect to have it all! And what joy that there is but one grievance! This is brilliant! Now, when I walk into a room which is chock-full o' congruence, I shall say, 'Wow! Just look at how nicely that sofa lines up with that coffee table; and isn't it lovely how the rug, too, agrees with the set pattern of lines!' And in so doing, I shall be at peace with my surroundings. Now, that being said, sometimes that one thing which is out of place may be, say, a wolf who wants to eat you, or Hitler. I'm thinking on a bit wider scale now. I was just thinking how sometimes it is not good to turn a blind eye to things which are begging to be adjusted. (Hitler was the first thing that came to mind.) I don't want to lead anyone astray here. If your crooked picture is Hitler, by all means, straighten it.