Saturday, January 13, 2007

A Matter of Perspective

As the thermometer dips into seasonable temperatures here in North Dakota, I’m noticing the equally intense dip in the conversation around here. Why is it the weather is always such a huge topic of conversation?

It’s North Dakota. It’s January. Why does it surprise us that it’s cold?

If we didn't have cold, we couldn't see this:






Although I didn't take these pictures, these are typical scenes in North Dakota in the winter. And cold is cold (even in Seattle Lisa!) - but it merely gives us something to compare with (we wouldn't appreciate warm if we didn't have cold!).

Thank you to Mieke Vos for the beautiful snow photo and Wenspics for the amazing sundog photo and StarrGazr for the fun sledding photo.

Labels: , ,

6 Comments:

At 6:35 PM, Anonymous Anonymous said...

Wonderfully gorgeous! You might not have taken those shots, but thank you for giving them:-)

 
At 11:26 PM, Blogger Jodee Bock said...

Mike: I'm glad you enjoyed them. Winter just wouldn't be winter without snow (and we didn't have a white Christmas this year in North Dakota for the first time since 1957!)!

It really is a matter of perspective - and I'm grateful that I'm able to see the half full glass!

 
At 1:41 PM, Blogger Tracy Lee said...

Thanks for choosing my photo to highlight.

 
At 2:06 PM, Blogger Jodee Bock said...

I'm happy to promote the wonderful photographers on Flickr! Loved the sled photo - it reminded me of sledding on my grandma's farm when I was a little kid. I love how photos can bring us right back to those memories! Thanks for posting the photo and for visiting here!

 
At 11:19 AM, Anonymous Anonymous said...

Especially with folks you don't know, weather always seems to be a "safe" conversation starter. You can (usually) predict someone's reaction to the weather situation you are referencing with your opening conversation gambit.....the crux of the matter, Jodee, is pushing those "baby" conversations further than the weather, into something more meaningful. But then that would be venturing out of the "safe, predictable" zone of words, wouldn't it? You can't predict someone's reaction or opinion. My question is, why do most of us fear that situation? Confrontation and disagreement do not have to be bad or fearful things. If both parties learn, share, and grow as part of the "conversation", isn't that a good thing?

 
At 11:26 AM, Blogger Jodee Bock said...

What you've described, Lisa, is, to me, the best definition of "dialogue" - suspending assumptions for the purpose of learning something. When we have that as our intention, we can "push" the conversation beyond the safe, comfortable and familiar zones without having it be a scary experience. So let's start with us (you and me) and get beyond the weather (not to say it can't start there). Thanks for your comments!

 

Post a Comment

<< Home