Unknown's avatar

Lens-Artists Photo Challenge: Bold

by

“If you can’t fly then run, if you can’t run then walk, if you can’t walk then crawl, but whatever you do you have to keep moving forward.” – Martin Luther King, Jr.

puddle

There’s something incredibly bold about a toddler. If you’ve ever seen the pure joy on a youngster’s face when they’re beginning to walk, it might surprise you. They’ve fallen down a million times, but still the prospect of being upright and moving forward is so compelling that they are happy to try again. Maybe it’s the exhilaration of satisfying a primal urge; maybe it’s the encouraging smiles and excitement from a care-giver. Being able to do what the grown-ups (or slightly more grown up) are doing is a huge accomplishment, and it is so thrilling to know you belong. With the proper footwear, you feel invincible. Mud puddles aren’t hazards, they’re opportunities.

“Whatever you can do, or dream you can, begin it. Boldness has genius, power and magic in it.” – Johann Wolfgang von Goethe

Perhaps there’s an element of play in boldness as well, a courageous experimenting. Toddlers who are given permission to play boldly learn quickly. As we get older, we’re expected to mitigate risks, be more efficient, fail less. I feel the constraint in my body. Perhaps I will strap on my bright green boots of invincibility today and stride out on muddy paths to stomp in some puddles. There are mountains to climb, hard rocky roads to traverse, wrongs to be set right.

Thanks to Sofia for this challenge: a worthy theme to ponder. Do visit her site for more inspiring, bold images.

25 thoughts on “Lens-Artists Photo Challenge: Bold”

  1. A beautiful response Priscilla – I loved both of your choices. The little one is adorable and you gotta love those bright green boots! Loved the marvelous colors in your second image as well.

    Reply

  4. A wonderful view on being bold and I love how you say for a toddler a puddle is an opportunity. So true! Maybe we should keep that pov when we’re older. Love your second shot too 🙂

    Reply

  10. I needed a bit of a lift today and had good hopes of finding it here! So important to keep a bit of that spirit that you see in little ones. I just rode my bike for the first time in years this morning, I zipped down a hill in the fresh spring sunshine. It was a tiny thing to do but just woke it all up a bit!

    Reply

Leave a comment