Beauty to Behold

Yesterday, Steven and I traveled to Red Bluff. It wasn’t a planned trip. We were in the area for a cruise-in and Steven asked if I had ever been. I hadn’t.

At first, I was hesitant to go because I knew I’m not physically fit enough to hike the trails or climb in the canyon. But Steven said we could just look.

So I spent a moment on a Saturday afternoon standing on the cliff dropping into the “Little Grand Canyon.”

The beautiful red clay that is distantly Mississippi. The gray sky. The mixture of barren trees and evergreens. The wind audibly blowing. It was majestic.

And I teared up.

How incredibly blessed are we to live in a country where we get to see these “little“ wonders. We have both freedom and access. It is a privilege and an honor to live on this earth and behold its rare beauty and all its splendor.

I know there are people all around the world that can barely leave their homes, let alone travel. And sometimes that has been me. But beauty is a human need. I don’t know why, but it feeds us. It is some kind of connection that restores us.

So even at home and in my home, I prioritize beauty. Living in a beautiful space matters to me. Opening the door and seeing a sunset or seeing and hearing birds fly. Being surrounded by flowers. Making my food look appealing.

All the little things matter. They set the tone for my life.

And moments of gratitude and celebration matter.

So yesterday, I celebrated being alive. That’s *enough* of a reason. That’s all it takes to be grateful.