This is a repost from August 2014.

Most of us run around all day with deadlines and don’t pay attention to the simple beauty everywhere. It’s important to take some time to stop and look around you every day – even if it’s just for 5 minutes. One of my favorite things to do is walk in the woods and watch the sunset. I’m fortunate to live by a lake; in fact this was the main reason my husband and I bought our home here.

Here’s a great poem by William Henry Davies as a reminder to just stop and look at your surroundings sometimes. It’s so simple and beautiful.

Leisure
What is this life if, full of care,
We have no time to stand and stare.

No time to stand beneath the boughs
And stare as long as sheep or cows.

No time to see, when woods we pass,
Where squirrels hide their nuts in grass.

No time to see, in broad daylight,
Streams full of stars, like skies at night.

No time to turn at Beauty’s glance,
And watch her feet, how they can dance.

No time to wait till her mouth can
Enrich that smile her eyes began.

A poor life this is if, full of care,
We have no time to stand and stare.