Do you ever just go for a walk and listen to the silence? No podcast, no music, no company. Only you and your soul to wander and soak in the surroundings. Taking time to actually notice things is an important process of learning how to appreciate the small, simple pleasures in life (that we often forget are pleasures).
I remember as a child my parents would get so excited to sneak out of the house early on a Saturday morning while I was still asleep. They would get a cup of coffee together and watch the sunrise while sitting outside somewhere. (Don’t worry, I wasn’t that little and they didn’t leave me home alone-my big sis was home with me). I love taking nature walks. I won’t lie, it’s hard for me to not run if I’m out in nature wearing athletic gear. But I realized if I’m running, I’m focused on things like not tripping on tree roots and keeping an eye out for alligators, more than soaking in the beauty and peace around me.
Sometimes I need to slow down, (and not feel guilty for it), and savor the moments of cool breezes on my neck and revel in the beauty of the green oasis of trees towering over me. I have a habit of being in “go-mode” and try to make the most of every situation…(may as well get a run in, may as well listen to this article that will help at work, may as well, etc…)but sometimes that leads to me missing out on the slower, relaxed, carefree moments that entice your soul and melt your heart into deep reveries of appreciation and reflection.
The beauty of small things are often overlooked when we’re living this busy, work driven life. It’s far too easy to push in the cruise control button and forget we have it on. Don’t forget to accept the silence, feel the breeze, lay in the grass and watch the clouds float by. Now and then, we all need to slow things down and find our appreciation again. It’s easy to lose, but not forever lost.