“Beauty has the power to change us, and in turn, our lives. And isn’t that the meaning of life? To find beauty in ourselves, in the world, and in others?” ~ Risa Mickenberg
This quote so resonates with me. When I contemplate something that is beautiful – a sunset, a flower, a tree, nature, an animal, I feel a stirring in my soul. Seeing and experiencing beauty makes me feel alive, joyful and grateful. John Keats said,
“Beauty is truth–truth, beauty–that is all ye know on Earth and all ye need to know.”
Experiencing our challenging Covid19 pandemic, I decided to rise above the hardship by finding beauty in my life every day. It saved me. I was experiencing a divorce at the same time, packing up my house, putting it on the market and selling it after 20 years—and moving to a new life. It was traumatic. But what helped me through it all, was pursuing and finding miraculous beauty everywhere–in parks, on hikes, in the mountains, in the presence of my rescue cats, in public gardens–it was all around me, if I just went outside and sought it out.
We can develop a frame of mind where we become highly aware of how truly miraculous life is. It is all around us, if we just look. Beauty can be in the small things—a flower, a tree, an animal, a work of art, something created, something natural. It can also be found in big things – landscapes, mountains, vistas, sunsets, man-made urban scapes, buildings, rivers and lakes, the ocean. Beauty can also be found in the mundane, we don’t have to have a life-changing moment, an earth-shattering epiphany, or travel across the globe to find it. It can be right in our backyard, our home, our animals, our gardens. It’s about living intimately with life, appreciating what we have, accepting what we don’t, and seeking what fulfills us.
Jennie Richards, Founder
Please check out my other websites:
Homeless To Housecats – About how to provide the best care for your cat for their optimal health, well being and happiness.
Humane Decisions – How to live more compassionately for animals and take personal action to end animal exploitation and suffering.
Jennie Richards Photography – My travel photography over many years of trekking the globe.
“Beauty is an ecstasy; it is as simple as hunger. There is really nothing to be said about it.” ~ W. Somerset Maugham