The Art of Noticing

Photographs of the natural world that foster calmness

Hi friends,

The other day, after finishing a work call in a Starbucks parking lot, I looked up. A tiny feeling of awe came over me. The intersecting branches above, the sun’s shimmer, and the depth of the green leaves impressed me. Amid the busyness of life and work, this moment was worth capturing. It brought a sense of calmness.

Here’s what I saw through the sunroof:

That image envigorated me for a few moments. It turned out to be a highlight of my day, maybe because of the surprise element — I wasn’t expecting such beauty in a parking lot. But we’re reminded again and again of the natural world’s charm, which is all around us: How grass moves with the breeze in a meadow, how the sand feels on our bare feet, and how the sun graces our skin.

Life can be especially fun when on trips and vacations, but those are rare, special occasions for most of us. The daily, in-between moments of natural world exposure are more common and relatable. We can expose our senses to them every day, no matter where we live. They are worth noticing, feeling, and holding onto with our hearts. They are worth pausing for, observing, and appreciating for the awe they provide. They are also free and require only our full attention.

“The simple things are also the most extraordinary things.” — Paulo Coelho

Here’s a recent afternoon stroll, where the natural goodness of the trees and light was memorable:

Recently, the evening fog slowly floated into view at a farm in Vermont:

Mid-flight — an opportunity to meditate on clouds and how they regularly change forms. They’re always changing, improvising, and adapting, just like everything in the natural world, us humans included. No two clouds are the same, just as no two humans are the same. Each cloud brings a different height, depth, shape, color, and form.

When was the last time you froze for a few moments to look up at the clouds, really notice them, and appreciate them?

One-hundred thirty-one years ago, Walt Whitman wrote, “I believe a leaf of grass is no less than the journey-work of the stars,” meaning all nature is worthwhile, magnificent, and united.

At mid-afternoon on the Gulf of Mexico last winter, you can clearly see the sun’s rays shining (and more clouds!):

I cherish these tiny moments of exposure to nature. I ask of you: What quick pockets can you notice today? Between meetings, lunches, commutes, and grocery store runs, the opportunities for noticing are always available: a tree, a moon, the breeze, or the birds — oh, the lovely birds, chirping away in a tree. We can make conscious choices to rejoice in the natural beauties of the world.

“The most fortunate are those who have a wonderful capacity to appreciate again and again, freshly and naively, the basic goods of life, with awe, pleasure, wonder, and even ecstasy.”

―Abraham Maslow, American psychologist

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I adored the sunset below (top left). Each sunset marks the end of another day on Earth, and they often unfold in surprising ways. “There's always a sunrise and always a sunset and it's up to you to choose to be there for it. Put yourself in the way of beauty,” wrote

Cheryl Strayed

when quoting her late mother in her book, Wild.

In the image on the bottom left, from a Vermont state park, I found the plants strikingly beautiful. Same with the lilies in Brooklyn (bottom right). Nothing to analyze, so much to appreciate:

Celebrate your gifts,

Matthew

P.S. — Thank you for reading and trusting me with these words, a privilege I don’t take lightly. If Inner Peace has helped you in some way, please consider forwarding this email to someone you care about.