Notice the Good Things

Photo: Bolz Conservatory @ Olbrich Botanical Gardens

"Let all that tickles your nose,

catches your eye,

or whispers in your ear,

take your breath away"

~ Meg Adamson

One of my favorite "happy" places, providing warmth and comfort especially when the cold and dreariness of winter wears on me, are conservatories. This past weekend I got to spend several hours enjoying Olbrich Botanical Gardens' Bolz conservatory.

I get totally lost in noticing all the tiny and lovely details that thrive in the tropical temperatures under the glass pyramid. It's like being instantly transported to another world!

As I appreciated the particular beauty and charm of the many different plants, I was reminded of something I read recently about how to infuse more comfort into our emotional state: noticing something beautiful about every person who crosses our path:

"When you easily notice good things about other people, it becomes more difficult to live in a place of negativity. Your brain is simply too busy looking for good to dwell on the bad...This exercise will give you two important skills: the calming ability to find good anywhere and a deep sense of peace." ~ American Cozy by Stephanie Pedersen

A reminder of how uplifting it can be to actively notice the beauty around us everyday - in all the many different and unique ways that it shows up!