Issue #22
Notice the beauty
I realize that I'm fortunate. When I look out my
back window, I see Lake Champlain and the Adirondack
Mountains, with the ski trails of Whiteface clearly
visible. Today is a crisp, clear winter's day, so
the view is particularly stunning. But I have to
remind myself that there's beauty everywhere. When
I'm in the right frame of mind, I can well up with
gratitude as I look down at a slushy sidewalk on the
streets of NYC or up at the unusual, smog-induced
colors in the sky at sunset in Gary, Indiana. The
point is that beauty is everywhere...and nowhere.
Beauty comes from within, so if you fail to connect
with it, for you it doesn't exist. But, when you
commit to noticing it, you can find it wherever you
look. And what's the value of that? Well, besides
bringing about a feeling of pleasure, noticing the
beauty is one of the most reliable ways to get out
of your head and into the moment. Becoming deeply
present, quieting your mind and just
observing the truth of the moment will take you to
heights of serenity and insightfulness. Take a
moment to make the choice to stop your whirling mind
long enough to notice the beauty around you. Breathe
it in, and notice how your concerns melt away.
"Those who contemplate the beauty of the earth
find reserves of strength that will endure as long
as life lasts."
-Rachel Carson
"Beauty is eternity gazing at itself in a
mirror."
-Kahlil Gibran |
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