There’s something to be said about ‘the simple things’ in life. So often we become overwhelmed with the complications that come along with family issues, work stresses, and just being human, that we lose sight of the simple things around us.
Though we may call them simple, they are truly more complex and beautiful than we can imagine. The adage, ‘Stop and Smell the Roses’ is precisely about this one thing; learning to notice the simpler things we’re surrounded with and taking time to observe their beauty.
In a practical way, simple things could mean the unexpected smile or courtesy from a stranger. It may be a ray of light shining through the window onto a picture of a loved one we miss. Perhaps, it’s just the beauty of an average flower in the grass being used by a friendly bee (like the photo today) as we walk by . There could be millions of possibilities.
The problem is that life acts like the blinders horses wear when they race to keep them from being distracted by the others around them. We become monocular in our vision with little to no depth perception. In all our busyness, we begin to see life in two dimensions instead of three, or even four.
The Mrs and I watched one of our favorite television shows, Last Man Standing, over a wonderful bowl of chili she made tonight. The theme of tonight’s episode was getting away from our devices. The older children (Millennials) were challenged to go with their parents to the cabin for the weekend without looking at their phones. You can imagine the comedy, and pointed truth, that ensued.
The show made a good point that talking face-to-face, while getting away from our technology, helped them to realize how much they needed each other. It was the simple thing in life like just putting everything down just to talk that was so needed.
I’m just as guilty as anyone. Having to struggle emotionally not to check the phone for ‘likes’, friend’s posts, news updates, weather updates, email, movie times, stock quotes, or a THOUSAND OTHER THINGS that are simply a diversion from daily life, is not easy.
I can’t even begin to imagine how many of the simple, yet beautiful things I’ve missed because of that device. I guess that’s why I love photography (not just to post on Instagram for likes). It takes away the cell phone, the stresses, and helps me focus on ONE thing. It helps me to see beyond the monocular vision I’m used to seeing and it opens a whole new, simple world around me that's been there all along.
This weekend, though busy with the Super Bowl, friends, and family, I’m going to dust off my camera and find some simple, yet beautiful things to shoot photos of around me. I’ll be sure to share with you as well. I guess that’s my point tonight; getting back to the simple things in life and enjoying them all over again. Maybe, in some way, my sharing them will help someone else appreciate them too…
Much love this weekend my friends!
Brad
