Now more than ever we are craving connection. We are confused by recommendations, we miss being with our friends, we are saddened by missed vacations and memories we expected to make, and we miss the “normal” that we left behind four+ months ago.

We are all struggling in some way to make sense of a lot in our world. I have found that taking a breath and looking for beauty has helped. I have been walking, running, and generally enjoying nature more in an effort to find more clarity, peace, and grounding.

On one of my morning walks, I came across a sight I had not seen before. From the storm drain in a crack where the gutter meets the road, emerged a small yellow flower. I love flowers and I love the color yellow, so naturally it caught my eye. I stopped and crouched down to get a closer look. I took the time to acknowledge what I found. It reminded me of a favorite quote, “Bloom Where You Are Planted.” I reflected on what a beautiful sight that was – so unexpected, so beautiful.

To grow in a place that is overlooked and not generally home to anything but weeds and grime, was a special reminder that beauty is all around us – we just have to look.

Over the course of the next several mornings, I made a point to walk by that same storm drain to check on my flowering friend. Each day, more blossoms joined the first, until it was a mini bouquet. It felt like it was blooming there as a reminder that not only can we find beauty if we pay attention, but that beauty emerges even amidst the storm and the chaos.

Finding that flower was a reminder to look around, pay attention, look for beauty, and when you find it, enjoy it – chances are, it has been put there for a reason.

So, I challenge you to seek beauty and gratitude in the mundane.  Take time to see the beauty around you because it emerges from unexpected places!

Please consider sharing a comment about what unexpected beauty you have found. We could all use the connection and reminders of the beauty that surrounds us if we take the time to be present enough to look.