Lemme ask all of you this question...

You mean "stop and smell the roses"? There are no quiet spots to just stop and enjoy the view around here. Everywhere is noisy! This is one of the reasons why I hate going to cafes and restaurants: they're full of noisy people, they're also overcrowded because the owners want to seat the maximum number of people in the minimum amount of space! The tables are so close to each other, you can hear everyone else's conversation. Why people insist on going to these noisy places to TALK, I have no idea. The most I do sometimes, is sit in the sun and just stare at nothing, or at a sleeping lazy cat. That's always nice. I also liked going to the harbor and watching the boats go by, but it's not a good place to "hang out" ;) I suppose going to church could be an option, it is usually quiet, but they're usually too gloomy and depressing. Banks are surpisingly quiet! Except for the annoying BZZZTTT! noises when they page people to the clerks.

In my busy city with all the busses, cars and trucks going by and people scurring about, rushing, rushing, always rushing, no one bothers to look up, well today I looked up when I heard a bunch of honking noises and saw a large v formation of Canadian geese fly over head, it was so beautiful, that all the noise around me faded and for a moment it was as if the geese and I were one. What a wonderful sight that as!

Today the sun came out and danced across the ice-crystals that formed in the snow that covers the ground. The birds took notice too as they gathered in the feeders to feed off the sunflower and other seeds that we set out for their buffet. Sometimes the little things are the most pleasurable. We all need to find a quiet place to sit, watch, relax and enjoy.

I try to stop and just gaze at my houseplants. I have this palm type plant that is about to take over one whole window. It seems very happy and has even put out spores to reproduce. When the weather is warm enough I take a walk everyday. Some of this is because I need the gentle exercise that brings, and some of it is to get outside and clear away the cobwebs by allowing random thoughts to come and go as I look at green grass, flowering "weeds", and birds. I have missed being able to go for walks since December. There was a blizzard and then almost a solid month of below zero weather....that is below zero F, not C. I can't wait for the the snow and ice to leave so I can get out and walk again.

i think every day that i must be grateful..even though i have had a difficult life..the morei appreciate what i have isee more good things happening tome..i think there must be a divine secret in that..i don't know quite what it is..when i look at my hubby's face it is like i am looking at Heaven's gates..and i say thankyou God..this makes my day... now i have a meimei..i am even more grateful lol!

Well I haven't had the chance yet today to take a step back and appreciate everything, but I do know that there's one yearly event for me that puts everything back into perspective. It's the 30 hour famine that my church does every year to earn money. I don't know why, but it's always a wake up call for in terms of me realizing all the things in this world I take for granted, and all the things in this world I want but really don't need. It makes me realize how much I take for granted being able to do something as simple as walk to the pantry and grab some chips or turn on the faucet and get some clean drinking water. If you guys have never had the opportunity to participate in this event, I encourage you to consider it.

Just because you have gardens, that's why you are relaxed. Here in my surroundings, I cannot see green grass and flowers , only trycycle and motorcabs, so noisy.

I do that everyday and every day there is much to overcome.Today it was the sunlight coming in the bedroom window, and the long tree trunk shadows lying across the snow.Great thread. :)

My husband has his own business and I went with him to help today. He goes to schools alot. I enjoy the children because they seem so sweet and friendly. Well most of them. One particular little girl came up to me and asked me to help her. She wanted me to spell "valentine" for her and asked me where I was from. You don't see many adults that friendly and outgoing. I never was able to be even as a child.

Hey a very thoughtful topic to discuss abt... I alwaz love appreciating my surroundings, specially 'The Nature', it provieds me immense happiness. I go deeep into it & try to find the source of its evolution, as a result it refreshes my Neuro Nerves too... Well something that made me thoughtful today was the Novel 'The Alchemist'. The caption in itself is enough to describe my feelings & all those whohav read it earlier wud agree wid me... Today I finished reading it & those 177 pages by Paulo Coelho hav given 'A Magical fable about following your Dreams' & taught a lot abt 'Life'. Various inspirational qoutes in it adds to the Magic...Few ones which creates impact are " If a person is living out his destiny, he knows everything he needs to know. There is only one thing that makes a dream impossible to achieve the fear of failure"..."Don't give in your fears" & many more which are simply worth thinking... Thus today in my Life 'The Alchemist' added to appreciate life a lot more...

For me, the most amazing thing to watch is my kids. My older son made some incredible art this morning, which was very creative, and made him so happy. My younger son sat cuddling his cat - and that brings him so much joy, it's hard not to get caught up in it. I sat with my tea, watching my boys enjoy the simple thigs in love, and felt very thankful.

i usually like admiring nature.even a tiny little yellow flower of some grass attracts my attention. the sound of the pouring rain, the smell of the wet mud, the cool breeze hitting my senses, the sound of the sea waves, the shape of the clouds, the chirping of the little birds..i enjoy them all. infact, when i got up in the morning today, it was raining. i went to the terrace and silently enjoyed the rain.it was heavenly!

I absolutely love your discussion! The apartment I live in has a wonderful view of the mountains, and I sat there for a moment, as I do frequently during the day, still amazed by it's beauty! I had a beautiful view of the trickling rain, and the foggy clouds that enveloped the huge mountain! I have birds and a ferret, so, I try to give them as much attention as possible already. but, you are right! to appreciate the things around you, is truly life's joy!

i admit i dont get to do this very often as i, like most people, am very busy and caught up in the hustle and bustle of the world... but when i am able to appreciate my surroundings and relax its usually when im by myself... like on the train or on the bus... i gaze out the window and look up to the sky and think about how wonderful God is and how he is watching us all from above... i also do this when im walking home from school after i get off the bus because i have to walk through a park to get to my house and from the park i can see the sunset and its so beautiful... i also gaze at the clouds and their beautiful colours that they absorb from the sunset... there are also often rays of sunlight in the distance shining on a particular spot on the ground... to me i think that God shines a light on that place for a reason... maybe he is giving someone incredible blessings, or it is the light that people see when they leave this world to be with him... but whatever that is, it is beautiful. to answer your final question... the thing that i saw today that made me appreciate life just a little bit more wasn't something extremely extraordinary.. it was a very simple thing.. it was THE RAIN. today it was pouring rain and it is such a BLESSING for our country (australia) as we are currently in a drought. all day i was complaining about the rain getting in my school shoes and making it all squelchy but then i realised y am i complaining about such a little thing when i should look at the big picture and see that this rain is a blessing ? thank you for your discussion. it was an eye-opener ! i wouldnt have realised i felt this way otherwise... its interesting how discussions like this on mylot can open your eyes in ways u've never imagined... i hope i answered your question !! if so pls dont forget to rate ! =) thank you so much and take care and God bless you my friend !! ~maRian

I have not seen anything...but it is still early. It is true though...we forget to just take in what is around us...and forget nature and it's beauty. We all need to take a little time out and enjoy the world more before it's too late...

one thing in life.. If u wanna be happy in life then take interest and be happy with whatever kind of life you are having. If u keep yourself kool and calm and cherish every moment of your life then i am sure Worries and sadness will never be anywhere near you.

Most days, doesn't have to be much, today it was the sun breaking through after the rain, just before I was about to ride, which was nice all the best urban

Most days all the best urban

Well,here in Toronto it's only 10 am, and already I've experienced 4 such sights: #1 I awoke at 6 am with my wife's arm around me. She was fast asleep, breathing gently - the warmth of her body, and the blessed silence of the early-morning world, made the perfect start to my day..... #2 Looking out my kitchen window at breakfast time, I was delighted to see the cat from next door balanced on our garden fence in the snow, looking as comfortable as if he was laying on a carpet in front of a roaring fire...... #3 Four squirrels were chasing each other helter-skelter through the snow and up/down the trees, oblivious to everything except their breakneck chase...... #4 My old dog, after a walk in the cold, is laying at my feet, completely relaxed and snoring gently, his chest rising and falling.... It's Monday morning, and I think it's going to be a good week! Nice post - thank you!

sit on a leather couch with the aroma of coffee and the scent of butter... i miss those times when i go to the beach with my family, just breathing some fresh air, walking as far as we could, and later buy some fresh fish to eat for brunch. while enjoyin the view and th eht sound of wter splashing, i take pictures of the coconut trees and random people and the sun as it rises, as it shines over the trees and capture a perfect single shot. it's also amazing how the waves hit the rocks and how they synchonically approach the shore and leave it afterwards. Back home in the Philippines, i can curl up til anytime i want, worrying about nothing but dining with my family. i can always go back to my room anytime i want. that that doesn't bore me. my room is one single place i can imagine everything i want to imagine, write, and do just anything i want. until i hear a knock, which calls for a meal. it's Filipino culture, and i miss that so much.