“Pay attention to the beauty surrounding you.”
When you read those encouraging words by author Anne Lamott, what bit of beauty surrounding you came to mind?
For me, I thought of Pikes Peak, the majestic mountain I can see every day as I drive around Colorado Springs taking my daughter to and from school. Or going to Costco. Or riding in the car while my daughter drives me around town — now that’s fun!
If I’m not careful, Pikes Peak can become invisible — all 14,000-plus feet of it. I forget that it’s there … forget to look up and see the clouds moving across the sky or the beautiful sunsets.
It goes without saying — but I’m saying it anyway — that our cellphones have added to the whole “What are we paying attention to?” problem. We can spend so much time looking down at our screens, scrolling through apps, that we overlook the people and places — the beauty — right in front of us.
In Your Words: Look up . . . look around . . . what beauty surrounds you?
[ctt template=”8″ link=”1a1RO” via=”yes” ]In Others\’ Words: Pay Attention http://wp.me/p63waO-2j3 #InOthersWords #quotes #seethebeauty[/ctt] [ctt template=”8″ link=”JwVa4″ via=”yes” ]\”Pay attention to the beauty surrounding you.\” #quotes @ANNELAMOTT @seethebeauty[/ctt]
Comments 6
The beauty that surrounds me is time; the lovely chance, each second, to choose appreciation over resentment, and composure over impotent anger. It’s the beauty of stilling my own rebellious heart so that it can better reflect the glory that both created and awaits me.
Author
Andrew: Whenever I write a blog post, I choose “tags” to go along with it — words that help search engines categorize the post. One tag for this post is “perspective.” And your reply certainly provided a completely unexpected perspective to my question of “what beauty surrounds you?”. Of course, I always look forward to your perspective on our blog conversations. 🙂 Thank you for being part of this community!
Andrew’s is a hard one to follow, but I’ll try. A sunrise. A rainbow. Spring. Children playing.
Author
Pat: Andrew always start the conversation with a flourish, doesn’t he?
But your beauty is worth appreciating, too.
Rainbows . . . a reminder of promises.
Sunrise . . . are we ready for the new day and any hidden blessings waiting to be revealed?
Children playing . . . a reminder to take time to play too — and to laugh!
Right now I see the smile on my grandson’s face. We get to keep him during the work week. I see the budding oak tree right outside my living room window. And now a red bird that just landed on the tree limb. I also see the sun shining right after a heavy rain storm. And my daughter and SIL’s yellow door on their house right across the street. And my mother lying comfortably on my couch after breaking her hip and moving in with us. Many many blessings around me!
Author
All beautiful things — and people, Gail. And so are you.