Our Attitude Affects Everything!

Jan 7

Beauty can be found in the most unusual places if we will just see it.

Percy and I just got back in from a long walk about. It’s a cool, dreary and misty day here in early December as I’m writing this. As some of you know, I’m not a fan of winter. I would much rather take a walk in April or May. But who wouldn’t? Originally, I went out because I needed the exercise, and Percy was jumping off the walls which meant he needed exercise too. It was an “ought to” for sure and not a “want to”. When I first walked out, I was focused on the chilly temps and dampness. I walked while listening to a podcast but I wasn’t really seeing much of anything except gray, damp, dreary, blah - you get the picture.

I was still in that, well I don’t want to do it, but I really need to mode when after about twenty minutes I started to enjoy myself. When this happened is when I started seeing the landscape in a different way. (I posted a few weeks ago on how we see things according to our state of mind you can read about it HERE) What before was a dreary day turned into a beautiful day with a mystical quality about it. I suddenly noticed the color of the few remaining orange and brown leaves against the gray background of cloudy sky, and the rich detail in the trees with little water droplets hanging from the limbs. I noticed a holly berry bush with gorgeous red berries. Where had that come from?

The landscape had magically changed around me and now I wasn’t focused on the cool temps or dampness or thinking this is something I need to do. Rather it was all about beauty and joy of the walk itself and what it was giving me. I then found myself enjoying the walk very much.

Here are a few more pictures showing you what I mean. I’m not sure how they will come across to you, but at every turn, I saw something worth photographing.

Even this dead tree came to life for me.

Isn’t it funny that all of this beauty was there the moment I stuck my foot out the door, yet it took me about twenty minutes in to see it because I was stuck in my negative thoughts?

Maybe there is a lesson here. How we see the world is almost always about us and our thoughts and not necessarily about the world itself.

As we go forward in this season of winter, what would happen if we saw things from a different perspective? And I’m not just talking about nature. What if we looked at our situations and circumstances in a different light? Can we possibly change our attitudes and thoughts so that what once looked bleak now seems hopeful?

Just something for you to ponder today.

Sending my best,

Connie