I love beauty. I have been told many times to think about what fills my emotional tank – what makes me happy – and looking at beauty does.
I think beauty is very much in the eye of the beholder but for me, there are many beautiful things. There are the obvious ones like a gorgeous sunset or sunrise. These can be utterly breath taking and can’t fail to make me feel more at peace with the world as I take it in.
So, it’s been good for me to make a list of what is beautiful so I can stop and reflect over it. It reminds me to pause daily and look for something that catches my eye and makes me more happy and peaceful.
This may help you too, and then you can look out for such things every day. My top 10 list would include (besides sunsets and sunrises):
- Water – rivers, steams, waterfalls, lakes, the sea – water has the ability to wash through me and make me feel cleaner and fresher just by looking at it.
- The sun – the way the sun lights up everything, making it more cheerful and warm. I especially love the sun reflecting on water – little diamonds twinkling on the surface. I could watch the sun reflecting off the water for a long time.
- Flowers – each flower, with its own colour and delicate pattern is beautiful and always gives me a lift when I see them. Now it is the time of lilacs, and this brings a beautiful fragrance too.
- A smile or a look of joy in a loved one’s face. This is pure gold for me and always makes me feel a happier to see it.
- Birds – I love birds – their song makes me happy and I love the way they soar through the sky. Their freedom and seemingly carefree nature is wonderful to watch.
- Big skies … and big views. I love being at the top of a hill and looking down into the wide sweeping views below with big skies above. The breadth and enormity of it makes my spirit light up.
- A beautiful piece of music, especially when it’s the flute or a wind instrument, can connect with me and lift me.
- Twinkly lights – I love fairy lights and sparkles – I find I am happier when I see the fairy lights light up the darkness or I am given a book with a very sparkly cover!
- The seashore – especially with cliffs and sand. I watch rough seas that crash against cliffs and feel the spray on my face. I love walking along the sand when it’s calmer. Both are beautiful to me.
So there are 10 of my favourite beautiful things. It’s not an exhaustive list but it’s a start. I try to find beauty in something at least once a day. I watch the sun come into my room or take a walk by the lake. I hear the birds outside or see the flowers in my garden. I see the smile of someone I love and hear them laugh. Sometimes it’s simple; sometimes it’s magnificent.
Whatever is beautiful for you, take notice of it. Be present and savour it in. Let the beauty fill you and flow through you and enjoy the moment so that it helps you to armour up a little more to get through the day.
