The World Around You Is An Amazing Place – Take Time To See It
What’s the hurry? Wake up, have a shower, get dressed, grab a snack from the fridge for breakfast, rush off to work, pop in and out of meetings, rush out at the end of the day, only to get home, make dinner, scarf it down, sit in front of the TV, go to bed and hope you wake up so you can do it all over again! <Phew>
Now imagine if you were leisurely walking a trail in the woods, taking in all the sights, sounds and smells of nature. You had nowhere to be and nothing was hectic. The only thing you had to worry about was maybe stepping in a puddle and getting your socks wet.
The world around us is an amazing place. Too often we get so used to it that we no longer see it. Consider taking some time out of your day to truly see what’s around you, often right under your nose. Here are a few things from the natural world that I find amazing and try to take in every chance I get.
1. Northern lights. We are fortunate enough to live in the Northern hemisphere and at a latitude that allows us to see these wonders quite frequently. It never occurred to me just how special this natural phenomenon was until we were living in Australia. While there, a local radio station was holding a contest asking people what they most wanted to see in their life time and one of the callers said they wish they could see the Northern lights – something we saw at least a few times a month in the winter back home.
2. Hoar frost. One of the things I find fascinating is how beautiful everything can be in winter. It’s not just dark, cold and miserable. There are days when you can be fortunate enough to wake up to a fresh snow fall, bright blue skies and hoar frost. It’s a pretty amazing sight when everything is covered in a delicate layer of frost.
3. HUGE snow flakes. My favorite type of snow is not the type you make snowmen out of or have snowball fights with but rather the big, slow moving, fluffy kind. Watching extra large flakes of snow sluggishly fall to the ground is really quite neat.
4. Lightning. I’m not a huge fan of electrical storms they scare me just a little, but I still find them really amazing and actually quite beautiful.
5. Waterfalls. Niagara falls has to be the most impressive waterfalls I’ve seen so far. I was shocked at the shear volume and power of the water as it flows over the edge and how quickly it settles once at the bottom. Watching a waterfall is a bit different to watching a slow moving stream but each beautiful in its own right.
6. Flowers. Where we lived in Australia, it seemed everyone had a rose garden. One afternoon while out on a walk I thought of the old saying “take time to stop and smell the roses” and I did just that. I made a point, that one afternoon, of smelling every rose I came across that was leaning out of the yards over onto the sidewalk. It’s quite amazing how different they all are. Even when the look remarkably similar the smell can be so different. It was quite an experience. It does slow you down but I was able to really see each flower.
7. Birds. I’ve never been a bird-watcher in the hobby sense of the word but last summer I took a special liking to a little blue jay that came by our place every morning. My son and I would put peanuts out for it in the morning and then we’d sit there and watch the little guy as he grabbed one and flew off into a nearby tree to eat it. They are actually quite interesting to watch.
I could go on about what an amazing place the world around us can be. It’s important that we take the time to not only look at what exists around us but to actually see it as well. Take time today to truly see something that perhaps you’ve walked by a thousand times before but never really noticed.
What do you find amazing about the world around you? Do you often take time to slow down and see it?
Photos courtesy of:
Northern lights: Nick Russill
Lightning: Eslie esq.
Niagara falls: Randy OHC
See also:
10 Tips For A Successful Meditation
22 Responses to “The World Around You Is An Amazing Place – Take Time To See It”
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Great post Sherri!! I have been thinking along the same lines recently as Spring starts to appear here in the Tidewater area of Virginia. I love to notice the changes that come with each season. I would add to your list, being outside at night when there is a full moon and everything is illuminated with that soft white light.
I don’t know if I would chalk it up to getting older or what, but it seems like the last few years I have been especially aware of what I would call simple moments of wonder at the world around me. The beauty in the world is truly amazing when we take time to stop and pay attention. My 3 year old son helps me with this, because everything is a wonder to eyes that are seeing it for the first time.
Thanks for some great pictures to start the day!
Thanks a lot Steve I’m glad you liked it. It’s amazing how much we take for granted and overlook as we go about our daily lives. Oh and the soft light of the full moon…absolutely!
I think you’re bang on with seeing things through the eyes of a child. My son and I were watching another bird yesterday (I’m not a bird-watcher…honest
) but just the wonderment on his little face as the bird darted in and out of the trees made me really SEE that little bird. My son thought the bird was great and he laughed and smiled thinking it was playing peek-a-boo with him. It was really very cute!
Thanks again for your comment!
Hi, Sherri!
Fantastic and beautiful post… I feel like I just took a mini tour of the world. I have to agree with both of you that kids have a wonderful way of helping us SEE the world. They really do see every little thing because they are not preoccupied with random thoughts in their heads; they just live and explore.
I definitely need to do a better job at that!
Thanks,
Lisis
Hi Lisis I’m glad you liked it! Ahhh to be a child again and to just live simply and explore.
Thanks for commenting!
Sherri,
The pictures are beautiful! I always wonder how often I walk right by such beauty without noticing.
Roger – A Content Life’s last blog post..13 Tips For Making Exercise a Habit
Beautiful post, Sherri…It is such a great reminder to slow down and LOOK around (or better yet, look inside). Today after reading your post, I paused a bit and noticed the sun coming in from the window in the living room, brightening up the space right where my littlest one was happily playing with some toys. It was such a peaceful sight! Thanks for asking me to notice it.
Lisa’s last blog post..The Magic of Touch: A Gift For The One You Love
Did you know that we’re only seeing about one fifth the water volume going over Niagara falls, compared to 120 years ago?
It’s true. About 80% of the water flow has since been diverted around the falls, to go to the hydroelectric plants.
Still, it’s pretty impressive, though, isn’t it?
@Roger – I’m glad you liked it. You likely won’t know how often you walk right past beautiful things until your attention is drawn to it. I hope you may take a bit of time and see the true beauty in something today.
@Lisa – Thanks a bunch! I’m glad you liked it and were able to stop for a moment and see the beauty that was right there in front of you. It sounds like a really special moment.
@Friar – I can’t even imagine that much water! It’s impressive enough as it is right now at “only” 20% that’s crazy! Thanks for sharing that tidbit.
Hi Sherri (and Gwynn)!
Great site! You know, I’m always in need of a serene journey.
I love nature, and there’s this selfish part of me that could permanently withdraw from civilization and become a hermit. I even tease my kids that after they leave the nest, I’m going to disappear into the mountains, and (except for an occasional “Grandpa sighting”), they’ll never see me again. Ha ha ha!
But (sigh) I live in a big city, overcrowded with lonely people all rushing to get to different places on the same freeway at the same time. Did I mention that I’m in need of a serene journey?
Anyway, Sherri, the message of your beautiful post (and your blog) is not lost on me. I really do need to slow down, calm down and appreciate the awesome world around me. Thank you for the reminder – I needed that. But I’m also going to need a reminder tomorrow (so I’ll definitely be back).
Thanks also for adding me to your blog roll. I’m honored to become a part of such a loving community.
Michael’s last blog post..Lanes Merge Ahead
Beautiful and amazing pics of nature Sherri.
Reminds me of how vulnerable we can be compared to the powerful rawness of nature. There is just so much nature to observe and we should always be thankful for nature’s creation.
I personally like to watch sunrises and sunsets, as well as nature walks along beaches, the mountains and forests.
Vincent @ Yinnergy’s last blog post..Productive H.A.B.I.T. Reinforcements (PHR 101)
@ Michael – Thank you for your kind comment. I’m glad you liked the post. I know what you mean about retreating into nature. My folks have a cottage in a very secluded area and it lacks all the comforts of home (no running water or electricity). We spend a fair bit of time up there in the summer and we just LOVE it. It’s so peaceful and serene. Nothing to do but take it all in. Thanks again!
@Vincent – Thanks! I’m glad you liked the post. If you like getting in touch with nature, hiking in the mountains etc. and you ever have an opportunity to go to New Zealand I highly recommend the Milford Track. Gwynn and I did this in 2005 and was worth every beautiful step. It’s not easy, at least wasn’t for us, but it is absolutely stunning and awe inspiring. Thanks again for your comment!
Okay Sherri, now you’re just showing off. Stop it. I’m already jealous.
Michael’s last blog post..How to Give Unwanted Advice
Sorry I missed this the first time around!
You are so right that we often miss the beauty around us in our self-inflicted day to day lives!
Ian | Quantum Learning’s last blog post..The secret of love, life and being happy
@ Ian – I’m glad you liked it. When you walk through life with blinders on it’s amazing how much you miss out on!