Moments in Time……. If You Blink, You Miss Them

Our world is beautiful, but most people dismiss their surroundings because they see them every day. Sometimes, it takes a stranger to give you a different perspective.

The lens shifts, and then you see it.

The statue you’ve been driving past every day becomes a monument. You suddenly see the craftsmanship the sculptor put into his creation. The smooth curves and perfect angles. A museum becomes a landmark people travel to visit. The queues are a testament to the attraction inside.

Your surroundings aren’t boring any longer because they hold value for people. Maybe you should value them too?

Look around you on your next commute to work. What do you see?

Familiarity doesn’t have to mean boring.

Now that many families are on vacation, I see the world with a different lens. I see the tourists flock to the beaches and flood the landmarks in cities. I see them pull up in droves to enter state parks. The campsites are teeming with brightly colored tents and RV’s. Their faces bring an energetic vibe of awe and wonder to the places.

Try to see your city/town/area with a different lens. Now what do you see?

I like to pretend with my kids that we have different roles; like we are detectives, zookeepers, or tourists for a day. It’s become a fun game to help my kids see the world through a different lens, and we have a lot of fun doing it.

I love the outdoors and explore it with my kids now that summer is here. Just because there’s no school doesn’t mean that learning grinds to a halt. There’s so much to learn and appreciate in the natural world.

I teach my kids to always be inquisitive and ask questions. If you don’t ask, then you won’t know, right?

My kids have learned to value moments. The small, often tiny details in nature that get missed but are beautiful to watch.

Have you ever seen the moment a dragonfly catches its first flight? The way it unravels its exquisite wings and holds them up to the sun’s rays to dry before flying off. I captured it with my camera, and when I zoom in, the silky, delicate segments show up.

My kids and I were lucky to explore nature when we spotted that dragonfly. It was years ago, but my kids still remember the moment and ask to see the photo.

Have you ever sat and watched the turtles hatch on the beach and made their way to the ocean for the first time?

Have you seen the sun rise and set over the ocean? The way the light catches on the edge of the water is stunning. Listen to the sound of the waves washing onto the shore.

When you’re next on the trails, stop talking for a moment and listen to the quiet. After a few moments, your head will be full of gentle sounds from the forest as your senses take over.

Close your eyes and let nature draw you in — just for a moment. Can you hear the birds sing to each other as gentle branches sway above your head?

Have you ever seen a deer in a meadow just outside the protection of the trees?

These are moments that are truly incredible, but you must be open enough to see them. If you blink, you might miss that dragonfly, bird, or creature.

What will you see next time you’re outdoors? Take the time this summer to see something new.

My name is Lizzy. I’m a trauma survivor, a wife, a mom, a teacher, and an author.

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• The Restoring Ability of Nature

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