Remember To Look Up
Don't go through life looking down at the ground, or you'll miss the beauty around you...
“Remember To Look Up At The Stars And Not Down At Your Feet.”
Stephen Hawking
When I’m out walking, I often have to remind myself to look up!
I find that I can be walking for ages, just staring at the ground, one foot in front of the other… oblivious to the beauty I’m passing by… ignorant of the awe around me…
Walking along, mentally lost in my to-do list and the things waiting for me when I get home…
Missing the opportunity to be right here, right now…
Yet, if I only lift my gaze… take in the view… fall into nature… drink in the fresh air… and bathe in the wide-open space… it could do wonders for me; mentally, emotionally and physically.
The same applies to life
And I think, how true is this of our walk through life?
Sometimes we can be so consumed with being in motion, tearing down the path at lightning speed, hurtling towards our intended destination, and unfalteringly focused on the goal at the end, that we forget to pause and take a moment to look around… to appreciate the ever-changing landscape.
If we were to take just a moment to soak in the surroundings, it could help us to recognise how far we’ve come… notice what we have around us… savour the moment… consider any junctions we approach… or even spot any alternative routes.
It could also help us check that the path is still the right one for us…
And along the way, remember there will always be something to be grateful for… I promise you, even if we have to look a little harder sometimes…
Whether it’s the sun in the sky lighting the way…
The people who cross our path, or those we share part of our journey with…
The shifting terrain; from dry, hard, cracked ground to a dew-quenched blanket of grass… From dense, enclosed forests to wide open meadows…
From the tiniest ladybird resting on a leaf, to the elusive deer in the distance…
Even on those cold, damp, grey days, we still have the fresh air, the open road, and the comfort of getting home and warming up with a hot drink.
This is our journey
Each step becomes a significant part of our journey…
And our journey is a unique path, just for us…
And remember, it will be ever-changing, so even when it gets rocky, the road will transform again soon, just like the sky transforms from night to day, and the seasons from winter to spring…
Hold on through the winter months, you will feel the sun on your face again soon…
Like the bare branches brace against the elements, awaiting the re-awakening of life, with the emergence of new buds and the sweet scent of cherry blossom…
Take care and much love,
Julie x
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I agree. I had to remind my friend’s son to look away from his phone and take in the beauty of the Lake District.
Ohmigosh! I do this--looking down while I walk. My husband often reminds me. "Head up!" he'll call out.