This morning, I went on a hike because I was feeling a bit anxious today and needed get my body moving to move those feelings out of my body. I was hiking on a trail that I’ve hiked many times before. I became lost in thought. Then, I snapped out of it, and realized that I had hiked half of the trail without really seeing anything. I was walking with my head looking down. So, I lifted my gaze and looked all around me.
Wow! I am so glad that I changed my perspective so that I noticed the world around me.
So many beautiful birds chirping and fluttering. There was this little bird that had a white belly and yellow and grey head that was fluttering along as I was walking. It’s amazing that this sweet bird lives in this little bit of nature surrounded by the city.
And it seems like the world is in bloom right now! So many wildflowers were blossoming… reds, yellows, oranges, purples…. so many beautiful flowers.
I left the trail, and began to return home, walking through neighborhoods. I was struck by the scent of jasmine in the air. Then, I looked at this flower in front of the jasmine. It was a Monkshood with these beautiful, unique white and purple flowers climbing up the stalk. What a fascinating flower. I had to take a picture because it intrigued me so.
This flower also filled me with AWE. Looking at the intricacy of how each flower is stacked up, it made me think of what a wonder nature is. How we are all here growing around each other.
AWE: an overwhelming feeling of reverence, admiration, etc., produced by that which is grand, sublime, extremely powerful, or the like.
– Dictionary.com
It’s easy to get lost in our own heads… it happens to me a lot. But, when I take a moment to look around, I can connect with this feeling of awe, and feel a bit more expansive because I am surrounded so many miracles of nature.
What inspires awe in you? Maybe try to find just one thing today and notice how it makes you feel.
May you have peace within,
Julia
