There’s a lot of stress going around these days.
And for good reason.
But even so, my wife and I were walking this morning, as we try to do when the gods of weather and scheduling are harmonious.
Along the way, we talk about what’s going on in our respective worlds, ranging from the AI tech bubble to the mystery of life.
But today, the topic at hand was one that inspires so many of us (sarcasm)—the inner workings of our homeowners association, which really ought to be its own Netflix mini-series.
Walking along the sidewalks this lovely morning, deeply engaged in the details of non-profit accounting practices, I stopped dead in my tracks. Silently looking down at my feet.
Transfixed. I said, “Oh, wow.”
She noted this and followed my gaze.
Seeing what I saw, she said, “Oh, wow!”
What had captured us both was nothing more (or less) than a wet leaf on the sidewalk.
Of course, the sidewalk was glistening with them from the storm that had blown through the night before.
But at my feet was not just a gorgeous late autumn leaf, but one capturing an exquisite moment in time.
Small globes of water, too large to be called drops, were sitting upon the surface of the leaf.
Magically large drops that look like water can only look when it’s on the surface of a leaf. I don’t know what that is; the water seems to know it’s on a leaf and looks different somehow.
The morning sunlight shining on them made them glisten like crystal balls.
The moment of it was so perfect.
This mad intersection of autumn, sunlight, rainstorms, and HOA planning.
So, I paused for a long minute or two, taking in the experience.
It’s so simple. But even so, I had to train to see moments like this.
So worth it.
Yes, we live in stressful times, and for that reason alone – moments like these are crucial to well-being.
Look for them. They are abundant.
Stop for them. They are waiting to be seen.
Let yourself be informed by them.
Because when you encounter something lovely and simple like this that stops you in your tracks, it’s not just you noticing something beautiful in the world – it’s the beauty in you – noticing itself.
That’s why we get so still in these moments.
We connect directly with something much bigger than ourselves.
Those moments aren’t just rich experiences; they’re portals.
Best to you,
Brett