'Picture This:'

Marisha Perry
2/14/07
Picture This:



My sister Kristin took this photo in the spring of last year in Ketchikan, Alaska. It was taken from her in-law’s back porch. Right behind their house, with the sun setting behind some Alaskan Islands and the gorgeous sky reflecting off of the cold, Pacific, Ocean. Many people think of Alaska as very gloomy and boring. It may seem earthy, natural and dismal from the surface, but deep down, it’s truly exotically, beautiful, and it can and will surprise you. I visited this past summer. Time isn’t of much essence there. The sun goes down for a few hours in the summer, and then it’s right back up again. Time waits for no one in Alaska.

This picture definitely captures the inner beauty Alaska holds, that so many people take for granted. When I look at this picture, I know that anything is possible. There are more than just two choices or two paths in life. The world is not painted in black and white. It is painted with a countless amount of colors, turning it into a beautiful sunset. This picture fills me with determination and peace. I want to go back to Alaska, go hiking, listen to the water rush down a fall, have the rain wash away my pain and renew my soul. But at the same time, it makes me want to do something. To make a difference, and to dive with my whole heart into something. This picture proves that everything has a potential for beauty and boldness. Even if it’s only shown once, all that matters is that it was shown.