I = Images

What do you see when you close your eyes?  First, I see brilliant colors that seem trapped beneath my closed eyelids.  Then, if I let my mind take over, I can see what I want, or sometimes don’t want.  But what I see are images—pictures without words.  Oh, what emotions those images evoke!

Media and marketing know the power of images.  If you start to notice what Images you are being exposed to, you begin to realize the power behind them.  We should think about the emotional responses we have to certain images.  Here I will share some of the images that I see that still elicit vivid responses no matter how many times I see them.

Most recently, I see the image of the young girl with the shaved head, tears rolling down her face, eyes haunted, as she stands behind a podium in total silence—mourning the loss of friends murdered by an assassin at her school.  In looking at her, my heart aches for her, for her pain, her frustration and yes, anger, that the murderer could cause such devastation to so many lives in so short a time because he was able to use a weapon of war on peaceful people.  I don’t need to read her words, the image of her is imprinted on my mind with great emotion.

I scroll through the internet social media and I see an animal slaughtered or cruelly tortured and my heart breaks.  I rail against the injustice done to one who cannot defend itself and was so hatefully abused for simply existing.  The image is one I cannot shake from my mind and I cry tears of sheer pain as I look into eyes of the animal who doesn’t understand why and is ever so afraid and beaten down.

I see a child sitting in rubble of what was once her home.  She is alone, scared, hungry, and imprinted on my mind as I fear for her and the horrors of wars that seem to never end for her.  Again, I cry from the depths of my soul for her.  But I cannot block the image of her, squatting in the rubble, from my mind.

These images remain in my mind and tear into my heart.  And the media and marketers know this.  If giving money will help, I give.  It doesn’t take away the images but it motivates me to act—however I can—to try to change the images of horror I see.  And keep seeing over and over.

But there are good images, also.  I see a friend’s genuine smile of pleasure as they relate a tale of good fortune, or love, or just the joy of being alive.  When I feel down, I think of the smile, and the beautiful person behind it.  Or their face in laughter—ah what a wonderful image!  I feel goodness and love emanating from the image of them laughing so freely!

Images are so important.  They color our day, our work, our play, our lives.  If I look at laughing children, my face will smile whether I bid it to do so or not.  My heart lifts.  If I sit at a concert and see/watch people playing instruments that are otherwise lifeless and the rapture on their faces as the instrument sings for them, under their touch, my heart soars and they and the instrument they play become alive and make my heart rise with the notes.  An image of a person seated at a piano, a drummer beating the drums with surety and love, yes love, lift me.  I can feel their passion for the music!

I can see specific images from movies I love to watch and cry, swoon, laugh, or shrink in fear.  I remember seeing an old movie with Fred Astaire and Ginger Rogers dancing and the image still causes me to take a deep breath and very nearly hold it as I am amazed at their grace, their smoothness, the beauty of them dancing across a stage or floor.

Images.  Sources of pain.  Sources of light and hope.  I found that when I am terrified, I can seek an image of the ocean and it helps me become grounded again.  From the silent lapping of the waves creeping toward my feet on the sand to the vastness of it as I look toward the horizon.  From the marks left on rocks by high tide, to the waves bashing against rocks and pylons, spraying foam and water everywhere with great, fantastic force.  Others will recreate images of forests and sheltering trees to calm their spirits and become grounded.  Or maybe the vastness of the desert.  But the image they see is the one they need.

Our images can change, but I don’t believe any are ever erased or completely wiped out.  Images of love, horror, safety, terror—they are there to present themselves as needed.  Some will come as reminders and warnings.  Some will come to motivate us, inspire us to act.  Some will fill an empty grieving place in our hearts.

Images without words fill, complete, inspire, comfort us.  Some images should always be before us so we can try to change the future, correct the past, build and thrive.  Images have as much power as we give them.  Reflect on your images.  Use them.  More, though, be aware of which ones you most often notice, why, and what you think of them. 

Sweet dreams.