A Year of Gratitude – July 21, 2024

I found my gratitude in a moment when I put down my camera. In that moment, I simply enjoyed nature, took in the beauty of the world around me.

I try not to get too caught up in the quest of capturing those photos, although I do love to take them. It’s far too easy to get lost in the chase and forget to simply admire the butterflies, dragonflies, and bees in real time.

I did today. I watched as a butterfly perched on one stem as a dragonfly moved from one, to another, and finally landed on a third for a moment. Not far away, a bee was busy on a stem of catmint, working so furiously that the stem was bobbing up and down from the activity.

No, I didn’t get a photo of the three of them. I was too busy watching them, being present in the place I was standing, and just enjoying being in their presence. I stood there for a few minutes and watched as they moved on to new spots in the garden or to another place beyond my sight. Then I got out my camera and went back to taking photos.

Be present where you are today. It’s such a powerful currency that you can spend with wild abandon. It’s a gift you can give to the people in your lives that they’ll always remember. I bet that you remember the people who were present, really given you their full attention. I know that I do.

This post is part of our A Year of Gratitude Series. You can find the introduction, inspiration, and entire year’s gratitude’s posts here.