Negativity. It surrounds us on a daily basis. We can’t get away from it. It’s online, it’s at work, it’s in coffee houses dressed up like unicorns...it’s everywhere. I believe that it’s possible to escape it. Even for a little bit.

Ferris Beuller once uttered, “life moves pretty fast. If you don't stop and look around once in a while, you could miss it.” Brilliant words from a rather strange source.

Everyone is on fast-forward these days. We rush to get ready for work, we rush to meet deadlines, we rush to get the kids to soccer...we rush. When was the last time you took a minute  to stop and look around?

I’m a big walker. I like to go out into the fresh air, put my music on, clear my head and take in everything around me and get inspired. As I walk, I tend to spot things that many simply don’t notice. I like to look up at the architecture of buildings, see trees changing their colors and find pieces of local history that I may have missed before. 

My last job was in our downtown area here. As we had a tiny space, I would take my lunch break to go outside and get some air. Across the street is a beautiful park that was perfect for just going and sitting next to the water that runs through it. There I got to take in not just the nature that was around me, but also witness new buildings changing our city skyline and do some people watching as well. It was great for coming up with ideas for the work I had to eventually go back to.

I noticed that I would see the same folks almost daily. I started taking note of their attitudes and demeanor. How their walks would ease their stress levels a great deal. I watched as they’d notice the park’s landscape changing with the seasons. Tough businessmen were suddenly commenting on the butterflies that flew past them. I started to really look forward to this time outside to see who I would encounter. Everyone became friendlier and for me, it was great to go back inside to finish off my day feeling refreshed and ready to write. These were not long walks by any means. These were 15-20 minute chunks of time that allowed me shake off what was happening in the world we live in.

I understand that not everyone has the time to do this. Therefore, I’m going to make a suggestion to you...next time you go to the corner to grab that cup of coffee, take it outside. For just a minute or two, really soak in your surroundings. Did you ever notice that the building you were in was 100 years old? Did you ever look across the street and see that there’s new artwork in the window? Or maybe look straight up and let your inner child make the clouds above you into dragons! Sounds silly? With everything going on these days, don’t we deserve a little fun? A little whimsy? A little positivity to get us through the rest of the day?

Ferris really said it best. Don’t miss out on life because you rushed through it. Stop and look around and you may find out that there is something there you never knew you were looking for.

---

---

Note: this was previously published on the now defunct Peace, Love and Progress site a few years back. I was associated with the site and I am the original author of this piece and wanted to share it again because I thought it still held true today...so here we are! :)

---

---

For my personal links: linktr.ee/stuffwefind

Share your own stories on publish0x: https://www.publish0x.com?a=olejRmZlej

  image by brittywing from pixabay