A trip to Phipps Conservatory and the wonders of real world beauty.
I almost stayed home last night. I almost spent the night in front of my laptop, being “productive.” My sister asked me to visit Phipps Conservatory. I said, “no.” But after the idea bounced around in my head for an hour or two, I changed my mind. After dinner, we ventured out into Phipps’ world of natural beauty and wonder.
But first we had to get through brutally cold temperatures, winter’s darkness, and a little snow. Those discomforts initially deterred me. It seemed easier to keep hibernating. I’m glad I braved the winter weather because, well, the incredible beauty waiting inside was worth every shiver. Here’s a taste of what I was in for.
Yet, if I had seen that picture before I went, it probably wouldn’t have swayed me. It’s a cool picture, but it doesn’t capture the incredible smells in each of the conservatory buildings. The one where trees were in bloom smelled like a spring day. The one full of ferns smelled like summer trips to my grandfather’s cabin. The air was fresh and light, a reminder that digital media simply cannot capture the fullness of such beauty.
It makes me wonder if, by spending so much time in the digital world we are losing something important. Don’t get me wrong, I am a huge fan of the internet and cool productivity tools and connecting with old friends online. But there’s not much room there for real, tangible experiences, moments that fill life with awe and wonder. I must have said, “I wonder…” thirty times while my sister and I walked around the conservatory.
The dessert room, with its strange cacti creeped me out a bit. I wonder what’s inside those big round ones.
The intricate bonsai trees left me in awe. I wonder how many years the artist spent shaping such masterpieces.
My sister said these orchids look like those jumping frog toys. To me, they look like alien spiders. I wonder what planet they came from.
I wonder, when was the last time you stepped away from your screen to experience something real, something you could see, smell, or touch?
For the past couple weeks, I had been hibernating, working on projects, working hard to become successful and wealthy, reading books and blog posts, watching YouTube videos, organizing my task lists and goals and bookmarks and files, listening to lo-fi music, and hibernating. And all that stuff is great. They even had lo-fi music playing at the conservatory too. It set the vibe nicely. And while no photo can replicate the smells and textures of real life, sharing this experience online reminds me how both worlds can intersect to inspire and connect.
But, man, am I glad I ended up saying “yes” to visiting the conservatory with my sister. The real, tangible experience of beauty touches the soul in ways that bits and bytes cannot. Not only did the little trip refresh me, it reminded me why life is such a wonderful gift. It renewed my heart. It gave me a fresh perspective.
I hope you have the opportunity to get out into the world and experience real beauty sometime, and soon. Maybe you can take a trip to a conservatory near you. Or maybe you can visit a museum. Or maybe, at least, you can go for a walk and pause for a moment to wonder, to let awe and curiosity renew your heart, just as it did mine.
