Sideways Glance Activity

Shelby McKie | Creative Writing | May 3, 2019

image courtesy of entrepreneur.com

"I couldn't help staring..." at the sky as it changed colors. The sky has always been my favorite thing. Ever since I was little, the clouds amazed me, with their ability to look different almost everyday, and the way they looked when the colors behind them changed with the hours in the day.

Even on rainy days, when the sky is gray. If you look up you'll see that it is more than just a dark and gloomy day, but that there are millions of different shades of gray clouds and if you look hard enough you can still see their dimensions.

On the brightest days, when there doesn't seem to be a could in sight. If you stare up long enough, it could be mistaken for crystal clear blue water. Because if you really think about it, what is the difference between the sky and the ocean?

And on the nights where there are the perfect amount of clouds. Not too many to block out the sunset, but enough to still be lit up by its colors. It will shock you that one night the sunset can be various colors of blue but yet, the next day be various colors of pinks and purples.

photo courtesy of Shelby McKie

And one thing I've never done is question it. I just have faith and trust whatever the sky does is meant to be. Whether its a message from above, or from the earth, I usually just accept it and listen to it. Whether it is raining, snowing, scorching heat, it is supposed to be that way for a reason.

Everything in front of you, at times, can feel so solidified. If you look down you see the ground, or your cell phone, filled with peoples opinions and perfections. And if you look forward you look at what is handed to you. You look at your job, at your friends, at things you need to do, at the places you need to go, and sometimes it is just to much to take in and it becomes harder to breathe.

But looking up at the sky is like looking into something more fluid. Theres no where to go, and no one telling you what to do. Just an openness of mind allowing you to take a few moments for yourself and appreciate a simple space. This feeling is like allowing all of the oxygen from the sky come flowing right back into your lungs. Peace and calmness will surround you body, giving you a place to look or go when things get tough looking forward.

So, in life, when you can't seem to look forward, always look up.