In Gratitude for Simple Things: Watch Sunsets!
Gratitude matters.
In particular, I think it matters to pause and take a moment to appreciate the small and simple things. In this case, sunsets.
Maybe that sounds a bit prosaic, but I just think it's important to take a time out now and then to stop being "so busy" and just be appreciative for the natural beauty around us.
Watch Sunsets!
It's easy enough to be grateful for big and extraordinary things in life... maybe we win the lottery, or earn a big promotion at work. Often there's even a celebration, and we are grateful.
The little daily things?
Not so often. And that's why we tend to end up taking these little everyday miracles for granted, after a while. Which is a shame, because there is so much beauty around us.
My wife and I have this simple little piece of art in our house... just simple cut and painted wood, with the reminder "Watch Sunsets." And we do, quite often. We are blessed to live in a house with a view to the west, facing both the ocean and distant mountains.
Today was a particularly beautiful and vibrant sunset. We'd had gray and drizzle for several days, but all of a sudden the sun came out... under the clouds, at the horizon.
So I grabbed my camera and caught a few shots to share here... as well as a few moments of gratitude for nature's amazing display.
Leaves backlit by the late afternoon sun
Of course, there are many "little things" to be grateful for, aside from sunsets.
A beautiful day, a really good meal, the cat purring in your lap, frost on the edge of a leaf, your favorite flavor of ice cream... the list goes on.
What matters is taking the time to appreciate these... rather than just allowing them to pass by in a blur, without giving them a second thought. Gratitude matters, because it allows us to experience life more fully.
How about YOU? Do you take time to pause and be grateful for the little things in your world? Little things that may seem ordinary, yet are actually small miracles or works of art? Leave a comment and share your experiences-- start the conversation!
(As always, all text and images by the author, unless otherwise credited. This is original content, created expressly for Steemit)
Beautiful content by the author - have a great weekend!
Thank you @uwelang, you also have a great weekend!
Thanks a lot!
For small things in everyday life you should always take time, because they are everyday but not self-evident.....
Indeed... this time is important, and it keeps us from becoming automatic robots who just keep going and going without paying attention to our surroundings.
Yes, indeed! Gratitude often times missed because of worries and busy life. I do appreciate your sharing, reminding and how you do it yourself. To be in a rhythm with nature revives our daily living . Thank you @denmarkguy
Thanks for the comment @ducky9605! Especially in these days where everything comes to us by technology, it's important to pause and wonder at the beauty of nature... otherwise we might forget it, and end up only knowing how to see sunsets on our smartphones.
Great post! Agree with you, nature is everything!
Yes, I love nature... sometimes I tell people "Nature is my Church."
Sunsets are awesome! They're one of my favorite sights as well. From where I am, the sun sets behind the ocean, so it's always a refreshing sight. It's a very contemplative time of the day, and it really puts a lot of things in perspective.
For me, I love the sound of steady streams, or water flowing in general I guess. It looks so gentle but it has the power to shape continents. Not only that, it's the source of all life on Earth!
Yeah, nature is very healing for the human spirit... these days, we might not think about it that much with all the technology we depend on... but, as you say, it's where all life springs from.
The advancements in technology is unavoidable. I guess the best thing to do is to adapt and evolve our way of thinking, incorporating nature to the new paradigm.
Thank you for the reminder, nice to read your words again.
Thanks @daisyd, for your comment and stopping by!
Nice to see things like this posted. Personally I think it's very important to stop and smell the flowers or look at sunsets / sunrises as the case may be , especially in the modern world , which seems to be way too busy a lot of the time. So i think it's good to just step back and try and notice the small things , and of course try to practice gratitude . Thank you for posting such a positive post :) Steem on!
Thanks for the comment! Yes, it's important to slow down now and then in our rather hectic world... I watch people walk around, eternally connected to their tech... and sometimes ponder if people are reaching a point of watching the sunsets on their smartphone, rather than just looking up and seeing the real thing...
Yes, this is what it's all about