Beauty 365 … Stories of Love and Life for Everyday

Born and raised a city girl, I feel very far from the extreme climactic conditions that so heavily impact the people of rural Australia.

That is, until very recently when I had the confronting experience of being driven through the fire-ravaged region of Port Macquarie, NSW.

We drove for 30 minutes along a coastal road, well known for its vistas of ocean and sky, yet that day, the vivid hues of blue and green had been swallowed by the thick hanging smoke, overpowering and inescapable, smarting my eyes, choking my lungs.

I sat silently as we drove through kilometre after kilometre of incinerated trunks, smouldering mounds, scorched and motionless wildlife.

I was overwhelmed by the absolute stillness and silence; no movement, no life, no sound…. no hope.

My companion however, a local of the region, encouraged me, “Annie, look closely, look at the green!”

And once my eyes were trained, I saw it everywhere; tiny delicate green shoots, bravely pushing up through the ashes, sprouting from blackened stumps; raw, unstoppable life, springing forth from the charred remains.

And I was reminded once again, life wins…. beauty wins, we just need the eyes to see it.