Three out of four weeks, we are given a choice of two items to use as a prompt with the fourth week being freestyle. This week is Art Week. The choices are a photo by Arthur Browne, and a piece of art by my favourite artist, Victoria Frances (with my favourite piece of art by her) If you would like to have a go at creating your own Haibun, then take a look at the Haibun Thinking blog. I chose Arthur’s photo of the fence.
CHOICES
I sometimes play a game on my console called Destiny, and one of the lines in that is in that game resonated with me and it is one that will stick in my mind for a long time. It is odd when a game can do that.
Everything we do has an effect not only on us, but on others around us. Every decision, every smile, every nuance, everything changes something or someone. If we nod to someone, we may change that person’s attitude; if we hold a door open for someone, we alter the way their day was going to go; if we hear a baby laugh the chances are our mood will lift. Likewise, if someone is nasty to us, it can change our day downwards. Someone jumping the queue ahead of us can (and probably will) annoy us. Seeing someone crying can sadden us. These are things that automatically happen to us. We don’t choose the change when someone smiles at us. We don’t choose the gratitude when someone holds the door open for us. We don’t choose the lift when we hear a baby laugh.
You see an article on the news… terrorists attack somewhere – the majority of us feel for the people injured. We choose to feel for these people. The same way there are some people who will choose to feel for the terrorists. In a war, people choose who they support. We choose whether to support Democrats or Republicans. We choose whether we support Conseratives or Labour. We choose which football team to support. We choose whether to support a team or not. Sometimes we choose to sit on the fence. Although there are times we can’t do that. If you sit on the fence too long, you will get splinters. There comes a time where you have to choose.
We …
Choose …
eventually
in any situation
we must pick a side
“There comes a time where we must all pick a side, little light. Even if it is the wrong side” The Stranger (Destiny)
A Mixed Bag 