A friend of mine recently survived a heart attack. Such news is always sobering, providing an opportunity to check in with myself and ask “If this were my last day…?”
I’m blessed with reasonably good health, despite years of unconsciousness and a few of plain old abuse. I’m blessed with a family that has always loved me even through the really hard times.
When I wake up and look out the window, I know how truly wealthy I am. No kidding. I don’t always remember it, but when I think about it, there is no doubt. None.
The world I am fortunate to walk through nearly every day has an abundance of life and beauty. All simply waiting to be seen and enjoyed. I don’t know how it would all look if I were hungry or poor as I’ve been well feed and reasonably well off for years. I like to think it would still appear to be amazingly beautiful. Or perhaps even more precious. Regardless, I am wealthy with beauty, and my soul is sustained by it on a daily basis.
Circles in the new ice on this beaver pond formed around the stumps in the water. Add a bit of sun and, voila, magic!
Earlier this week I saw the sun on the surface of a beaver pond. The stumps of trees in the water shaped the freezing ice into large circles. Who could even imagine such a scene?!
And another piece of art for the finding: a stem of dead grass frozen into new ice. Am I crazy or is this not simply stunningly gorgeous? Such gifts are everywhere. No wrapping or overnight delivery needed!
Crystals of new ice form over a stem of grass frozen beneath.
Still Learning To See 
John,
Both your photos and your prose/poetry are valuable reminders of the beauty in our worlds. If we make the time to see. Thank you so much for your blog. Jean