As I travelled away for a few days break – I was actually glad that the forecast was for cooler days. Although I love the sunshine – I do find the high temperatures – that we have been experiencing – quite draining.

I was quite taken – on my journey – to see the dark clouds – brooding over the mountains – atmospheric – and beautiful – stirring my senses – even more than the clear blue skies – and I realised that in fact – “I love the cloudy days – for they too – contain beauty”

It would be so easy for me to look at those dark clouds – and only see that – maybe my few days away would be spoiled – bereft of sunshine – cold – and possible wet.

But – as my senses were stirred – I saw afresh – that beauty reigns everywhere – if only I take the trouble to look – beauty will find me.

As someone beautifully put it – “When you see beauty all around you – beauty will seek and find you – even in the most unexpected places”.

I love the thought that – ‘beauty will seek and find me’ – but first of all – I need to be open to see it – to be attentive to the world around me – and in so doing – will find that – “To the attentive eye – each moment of the year has it’s own beauty – and – in the same field – it beholds – every hour – a picture which was never seen before – and which shall never be seen again”.

It’s so easy – to miss those moments. I’m sure I have missed plenty – missed seeing the beauty around me – not just simply in nature – but in the people that I meet – day by day.

I want to be more aware – more attentive – to the beauty around me – to recognise beauty in things – that I never noticed before.

This quote suggests one way of doing that – “One way to open your eyes to unnoticed beauty – is to ask yourself – What if I had never seen this before? – What if I knew I would never see it again”

I find that quite a sobering thought – in a way – yet – at the same time – ‘inspiring’ – urging me on – to notice – to open my eyes more – to see the beauty all around me – and not wanting to miss that opportunity – for beauty – to seek and find me too.

Blessings – Lois