Pages

Sunday, January 17, 2010

HELP!

I have finally found a writing activity that has me stumped. The exercise asks for the writer to write about something that is useless and beautiful. That's easy I thought to myself. There are lots of things that are useless and beautiful. HA!

First I thought of SNOW. That's beautiful I muttered softly. And it's useless too. Then I remembered all the happy teachers and children out of school for a snow day. I thought of every back-to-work snow plow driver. Forget snow, I thought.

Then I moved on to JEWELRY. My wheels were turning again. Useless? Beautiful? At first I answered yes to both questions. Then I remembered the jewelry that was left to me by my mother. Every time I look at my rings I think of her. Her jewelry keeps my memories alive.

Oh my list went on and on. Every single time I thought of something that was beautiful and seemingly useless, I thought of a reason for it....talk about creative thinking, my mind was on fire!

Your turn. Can you think of anything at all that is useless and beautiful? Even if you have trouble like I did, give it a shot and let me know what you come up with. I promise, the next writing exercise will be easier!

21 comments:

Unknown said...

A lava lamp. Although, I guess it can be argued that something that has beauty is never truly useless, as it gives pleasure to those who gaze on it - at least for a time.

(Jan, I wish you were on Facebook!)

Tweedles -- that's me said...

The long ostich feather (or whatever kind of feather it was) on the end of the writing pens from long ago.

Jan Mader said...

I'm going to do it Mia. I started to and then I stopped. Now that the holidays are past I'll try to get moving on it again!

SquirrelQueen said...

Simply light falling on water droplets, easy to create.

A rainbow's colors serve no useful purpose,
save a smile to our lips
and a spark to our imaginations.
J Weber

Maureen Hume said...

Jeez, I must be a horrible person because the first thing that came to my mind was a certain wannabe actress!
I'm truly stumped. If I percieve something as beautiful then it usually gives me pleasure so that makes it useful.
Maybe...clever ice sculptures, really intricate sandcastles, chalk pavement drawings. Darn it! All those have the potential to make me smile!
I give up.
Maureen. www.thepizzagang.com

Terri said...

Ahh a rainbow... some may and some may not know....biblically it serves as a sign ...a covenant/promise between God and man that he will never destroy the entire earth by a global flood ever again. So when we see a rainbow it is to remind us of that. I respect that many may not agree with that. So for them may serve no useful purpose.(Genesis 9:12-16)

It would be something made by man. Only Man can carve for himself an image cover it with precious metals and encrust it with the finest jewels and then bow down and serve the very thing he himself has just created. Useless and Beautiful.

Kas said...

Useless and beautiful are the gladiator style shoes I bought from Target. Beautiful to look at but useless in that you have to walk on tippie toes otherwise one falls over in an embarrasing way in the shopping centre.

CATachresis said...

As someone else has said, if something is beautiful then it's not useless as it gives pleasure just because of it's very existence - unless, of course we're talking about one of these vacuous Z-list female celebs! Of course even then (and shall I be the one to say it?) beauty is in the eye of the beholder! lol

Al said...

Hmm let me think...a comet? They're just beautiful to stare at but do they have a purpose?

Rachel Kimberly said...

Nail polish. I really see no point to it, and it can be rather pretty, even though I'll never wear it. (if I can help it)

Faith said...

I have ran a few things around in my head which I think are beautiful...a conch shell, sand, a fall leaf,barren branches in the wintertime..all of these have purposes/uses..and they are beautiful..How about...a star! They twinkle and shine for us and illuminate the night sky, but what is their purpose? Perhpas they had one long ago..and what we see from Earth, they may no longer even be in existance. This is a very thought provoking question...I should like to ponder some more...

^..^Corgidogmama said...

White teeth, a smile, an empty valentine candy box.
This is a real stumper!

Tweedles -- that's me said...

That funny looking netting that women wore on their hats a hundred years ago.

Another thing comes to mind- those itty bitty shot glasses- that people drink whishy from.
Why not use a big glass and be done with it.

A kalidescope- pretty colors are in them- thats about it- right?

2cats said...

Ice formed on a mud puddle.
A wet spider web.
Sunshine peaking through the trees.

Sammy said...

Models. Beautiful, but do we really need them? We don't need other people to tell us that they're beautiful, and clothes is beautiful on them. :P

Ryan said...

How about a icicle? They are pretty to look at, but they are useless. Except if one falls down and hits your eye. Then you have a medical bill that is useful for someone. But for the most part they are useless!!!!

Unknown said...

What about a rainbow? They are very pretty to look at and interesting to learn about, but they serve no real purpose in our lives.

SANDY said...

Wrong Heather, a rainbow makes people smile, makes them run and get their cameras, gives them something to talk about...makes them feel better after an ugly rain.

I like the icicle idea Ryan came up with

Can't come up with an idea of my own though...and now I've put off going to work far too long and am going to need to hurry...errrrrrrrrrr

Sandy

Marjie said...

I first thought "Paris Hilton". But, then, she is useful, even if only to make us mere mortals feel smarter. I think if it's beautiful, it will make someone happy on some level, and then they have served a purpose. Last Tuesday I even took a picture of icicles on a shrub with sun shining through it that made me smile, so I'd have to respectfully disagree with Ryan.

Suzanne Ross Jones said...

I was going to say nail varnish, but see Evergreena got there first. It's bad for the nails, makes a mess - but sooo pretty.

X

Tweedles -- that's me said...

small dog dishes! no purpose at all!

Followers