Pictured above is the changing sky we experienced yesterday morning from cloudy to sunny, and conversely from sunny to cloudy. It had us thinking of the word "contrast!" There is an abundance of sayings on the subject of contrast. These quotes focus mostly on the theme that you cannot appreciate the good without experiencing the bad. Here are a few examples:
“What good is the warmth of summer, without the cold of winter to give it sweetness.” John Steinbeck
"Never to suffer would never to have been blessed"
Edgar Allan Poe
If you want the beautiful moments to shine, you have to contrast them with dark and gruesome moments. That's the way life is.
Tony DiTeritzzi
What if you were to see contrast as a valuable asset, or a well of inspiration? We see contrast like a coin. A coin has two sides. Both sides have opportunity! There are umbrellas for shade on a sunny day, and umbrellas for rain on a rainy day! Contrast brings forth a well of creativity. It challenges us to seek new solutions. Here is an example from our real estate practice.
For instance, we had a sizable real estate deal fall through after all parties signed all documents, the dollars were in a trust account ready to be distributed. The only last minute contingency left was the blessing of Feng-Shui Master from San Francisco. He pronounced that the wind blew the wrong way on that street and in Los Angeles in general for the success of the business.
This unhappy event immediately led us to the nearest bookstore where we purchased several books on Feng-Shui. This was a subject we needed to be more familiar with. After reading the books, we were more knowledgeable and informed on the subject. Next time, if the subject came up, we were prepared!
Great inventions are the result of contrast. It spurs inspiration which leads to creativity-in order to make life easier and better. The evolution of transportation is an example solved the problem of how to get from Point A to Point B faster. Trains, planes, automobiles and now rockets to space. From our point of view, contrast is a valuable asset.
“The flower that blooms in adversity is the rarest and most beautiful of all.”
― Walt Disney Company, from the movie Mulan
What do you think?
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