Things of Beauty

A Journey Through Grief
A Journey Through Grief

“The power of finding beauty in the humblest things makes home happy and life lovely.” ― Louisa May Alcott

A few years ago I was working in Pittsburgh. There were certain times of the year that my job became very heavy with responsibilities. I was thankful that I was occasionally able to leave on my lunch hour and have a change of scenery. At least once a week I tried to get out and meet a friend. If that didn’t work, I fell back on plan #2. I looked for things of beauty.

This was easy to do because I worked near Schenley Park. There was Flagstaff Hill, the Schenley Plaza, and Phipps Conservatory. A few times I took thirty minutes and walked through the displays of the Conservatory. Talk about rejuvenation.

Lately, I look for the beauty in every day life. It’s easy to find if you train yourself. While you are driving, glance at the sky once in a while. Look at the beautiful autumn scenery if you have it (it’s gorgeous here right now!). Are there flowers blooming near you? Is there wildlife? Are there children playing?

Don’t forget to take a break and live life. It’s really important. Here’s a few beautiful things I’ve found lately.

Cousins are beautiful
Cousins are beautiful.
Lunch bags at church are beautiful
Lunch bags at church are beautiful.
Can you see it? A turkey on my lane is beautiful.
Can you see it? A turkey on my lane is beautiful.
Seeing my old friend Nita this past summer was beautiful!
Seeing my old friend Nita this past summer was beautiful!
My mom and sister Mary are beautiful!
My mom and sister Mary are beautiful!
This amazing sunset.
Sunsets are beautiful.
This farm is beautiful. Read more about it on my other blog. Click HERE.
This farm is beautiful. Read more about it on my other blog. Click HERE.

What is beautiful in your neck of the woods?

 

 

It's nice to share. Thank you.

8 Replies to “Things of Beauty”

  1. This post is beautiful!! Gratitude helps me see the beauty that surrounds me. The more grateful I am the more beauty I see. The simple things I never paid attention to , I tend to notice more now. Just the other day, I stopped dead in my tracks and noticed the gentleness & beauty of a very elderly woman. Her loving smile just touched my heart.

    1. I am so glad you mentioned gratitude Cindy! It is true that gratitude so helps us see the beauty around us. The beauty of an elderly woman is so awesome. I look at my mom’s face and see beauty.

  2. This is SO wonderful, Joanne. I love it. It reminds me of my 10th birthday when my aunt sent me an instamatic camera with 4 rolls (12 pictures each) of film and enough money to have them developed.
    She was coming to visit in 6 weeks, which meant I could go for a walk every day after school and any time on weekends, and on each walk talk one picture of my favorite thing of beauty. When I got them developed I attached each one to the paragraph I’d written about why it was so beautiful to me. She said to “Surprise me with beauty,” and when she arrived for the visit and we spent a wonderful evening going over all of them, it changed how I looked at beauty and its joy… availability.

    1. Wow, what an awesome aunt she was Marylin. And what a great idea. I was just saying to a photographer I met at an event the other night, remember when we bought rolls of film and developed every picture! It feels like the world has changed in that regard. Now we look at digital pictures. But your memory of the pictures you took is wonderful. I love the gift of beauty your aunt gave you.

  3. It really is all about gratitude. Whenever I see something lovely, no matter how small or big, I am always grateful for that opportunity. And I never hesitate to tell God. I even notice those tiny little wild flowers – their blossoms no bigger than a dime (some even smaller) – straining their little necks above the grasses to brighten a day.

    And, I agree, this post is beautiful! And so are YOU!!

    Blessings, my friend,
    Marianne xoxo

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