Embrace the Beautiful

I've realized that after being in and out of hospitals in the beginning months of this year, I've grown to appreciate the little things in life in a whole new way. Each new day is a blessing after struggling for so long. I still struggle sometimes, but I have come a long way in a few months. Monday will mark two months since I was released from my last hospitalization. To me, that's a huge accomplishment and blessing from God.

I try to embrace each morning and each new day. I try to appreciate everything, even the difficult things. I am so fortunate to be getting better and to have things going well.

In some ways, it's like becoming a child again. Being excited about everything, each new day. In a lot of ways, dealing with my struggles has made me more serious than I want to be. I want to have fun again. I was told by a little girl a few days ago, "You're beautiful just the way you are." Just that simple gesture made my day. In the simplicity of the statement, it made me feel much better.

One of the small things I love to do when I'm out in nature is to watch the sun shine through the trees. I believe the sun is one of the most magical things on earth. Through the clouds and the trees, it shines in ways that are sometimes breathtaking.

I took a short video of the sun shining through the trees when I was on the swing the other day. The video is okay but it was even more beautiful in real life.

A few months ago, I visited some relatives in a town nearby and they told me to take a walk down the street and they live in the country area. I was taken aback by the wondrous beauty of the trees and the country side near where they live. I was so taken in that I walked right by their house on the way back. I honestly could not take my eyes off the sun, the trees and the beautiful countryside. The beauty was just overwhelming.

Beauty is all around us. The beauty of what God has created is all around and it is up to us to embrace it and celebrate it- to take it all in.

I believe that the magic happens when we stop dwelling on the negative and we start appreciating the beautiful world that God has given us. The magic happens when we begin to breathe in the positive things around us, embracing the beauty. The magic happens when we stop dwelling on the negatives in the past and we start to move forward into what God has planned for us.

I want to share the opening scene of one of my favorite movies, August Rush. Like the little boy says, all we need to do is listen and open ourselves up. As you watch the clip, look at how beautiful the scenery and the words he says are.

Embrace the beauty. Embrace the wonderful. Embrace the positive. Embrace life as it is.