The little things...

While carpooling to work with my boyfriend the other day, I noticed some pretty, yellow flowers by the red light we were waiting at. After briefly feeling bad for the flowers' concrete surroundings, I announced, "look at those cool flowers." My boyfriend (who has been driving this route for years) said, "Hm, those are cool. I never noticed them before."

This started a whirlwind of thoughts. If my boyfriend (who is usually on the same "level" as me) didn't notice those flowers, who does? Why are they there? How many people just keep driving, shaking their head at the traffic, and talking on their cell phones without glancing over to see the beauty those little, yellow flowers have to offer? Often times, no matter how bad my day is, just watching the bee next to me move his little legs around clumsily in that flower can be so invigorating. Maybe it's just me and my hippie ways, but nature can really help cure a number of emotional and day to day ailments. How many times have you thought about your taxes while on a hike?

There have been so many cases of people who are near death finally stopping to smell the roses, play piano, or just listen to the birds. Could it be that living our daily, work, home, eat, sleep life is worse than death OR is it just not enough people notice those little, yellow flowers? I am going with the latter.

If people took notice of the little things, life would always offer some new form of beauty or pleasure. Instead of focusing on getting from point A to B while you sit in traffic, look around, watch those birds dance around that worm, look at the ant carry that McDonald's french fry off the road, just observe the world around you. Go to the Farmer's Market and get fresh food, take your time and cook a meal, instead of just finding something to consume. Making and taking time with the little things can change the mundane routine into something of excitement and adventure...like the world is through a child's eyes.

A few weeks ago, while weeding basil...I decided to get really low to the ground like I was in a jungle of basil, getting an ant's eye view. Just then, a huge hand came and pulled out the really tall weeds that bypassed the basil all around me. Then, the sun shined through in perfect streams through those glossy, bushy branches of the herb. See? It's easy:)

I encourage all of you to take some time tomorrow to look away from your computer, get off your cell phone, and just look around you. Let your imagination roll...and if you're lucky, you may come home with a story to share of the great adventure you had while sitting in traffic.

Life was never meant to be lived with tunnel vision, find the beauty in every day and every moment that passes.