Appreciating the beauty that surrounds us is a way of rejuvenating ourselves, allowing ourselves to bask in the warm embrace of nature. What a gift! Too often we take for granted the splendor of the world around us. The beauty of nature often leaves me speechless. I find that the more time I spend in nature, admiring and connecting with something greater than myself, the more refreshed and exhilarated I feel.
Today, 323 days ’til 40, I will not take the beauty of nature for granted. I will remind myself of the great gift I receive when I take time out of my busy life to pause and spend time immersed in nature.
May you find great beauty in the world around you and breathe a little deeper and easier as you experience it firsthand. Nature refreshes and restores our hearts and minds like nothing else.
~400daystil40
Fortuitous Forty!!! 
jensine
April 4, 2012 at 00:03
I love those walks on the beach and strolls by the cliffs … nothing bigger or better or more beautiful
400daystil40
April 4, 2012 at 04:07
Yes! 🙂
ibbob500
April 4, 2012 at 00:07
Great post! It sure is amazing how a little time with nature can put life in better perspective, huh. Thanks for the reminder to do it more often! Really enjoying your blog… 🙂
400daystil40
April 4, 2012 at 04:07
Yes, it is amazing – and it seem that we get so busy we forget to spend time in nature, but the minute we get out we realize what we have been missing. Thanks for the blog compliment! 🙂
Stuart Otway-Smith
April 4, 2012 at 00:08
Often I sit in the garden, close my eyes and just listen to the beautiful song of the birds.
Sweetly well-wishing marvellous joy to whom ever will listen.
400daystil40
April 4, 2012 at 04:06
I agree… in the summer I love to leave my window open and listen to the birds that make their home just outside my window!
allthingsboys
April 4, 2012 at 00:15
Truer words were never spoken. Well, maybe not never, but true just the same. Thanks for the reminder!
400daystil40
April 4, 2012 at 04:05
And thank you for your kind words!
istopforsuffering
April 4, 2012 at 00:37
This is beautiful – thank you for sharing ♥
400daystil40
April 4, 2012 at 04:05
Thank you so much!
writerwannabe763
April 4, 2012 at 00:43
I find such peace in the quiet of nature….in a bubbling brook or an ocean’s waves or the calm of a beautiful mirrored lake…………..
Watching a chipmunk romp in the forest or being fortunate enough to catch a glimpse of a deer…..
Seeing the many species of birds with all their different colors……….
All of these I treasure…..
400daystil40
April 4, 2012 at 04:05
Me too…. my family and I were walking in nature today and we delighted in all the cute chipmunks we saw running through the woods! 🙂
LauraLee
April 4, 2012 at 00:44
There’s a sassy, little finch, about 4′ from me, as I read your post.
It’s been one of those “ick” days, physically, but my deck is so soothing.
The sights, sounds & smells are all uplifting.
In other words; once again I’d have to completely agree with you!
🙂
400daystil40
April 4, 2012 at 04:04
Thanks, so much – and yes, when we are out in nature and get the plants and trees with the animals it is amazing!
Bird
April 4, 2012 at 00:48
Beautiful!
400daystil40
April 4, 2012 at 04:03
Thank you!
viveka
April 4, 2012 at 00:50
Yes, what a gift it’s and still we are so bad on value and taking care of it.
Thank you for this.
400daystil40
April 4, 2012 at 04:03
Yes, that is very true, and so very disturbing.
terry1954
April 4, 2012 at 01:37
very good reading
400daystil40
April 4, 2012 at 04:01
Thanks!
buckwheatsrisk
April 4, 2012 at 02:07
oh how i love nature, beautiful pics!
400daystil40
April 4, 2012 at 04:00
Thanks, I took them both in Cape Town, South Africa.
buckwheatsrisk
April 4, 2012 at 04:05
awesome!
msmckibbon
April 4, 2012 at 02:11
This is so true. I find that, when I’m tackling what seem to me to be huge problems, if I go outside to sit a bit after dark and look up into the sky and see all the stars and realize the vastness of space, I no longer feel such a huge weight upon my shoulders. It makes me realize that, in the grand scheme of things, nothing is as important as simply enjoying life and the beauty around us.
400daystil40
April 4, 2012 at 04:00
Yes, doesn’t it? I experience the same!
A Light Filled Life
April 4, 2012 at 04:13
It is often the simple things in life that bring the most joy. Simply, turning off all the world’s noise and focusing on the beautiful and magnificent miracle, called nature that God created can bring immense joy.
400daystil40
April 4, 2012 at 04:21
Yes!!! Absolutely!!!!
A Light Filled Life
April 4, 2012 at 04:52
It is sad that our human nature is to over complicate everything.
400daystil40
April 5, 2012 at 04:34
Amen.
New Hampshire Gardener
April 4, 2012 at 04:26
Reminding ourselves what a great gift nature is should lead us to feelings of gratitude for being given such a gift. I am very grateful to be able to live and work so close to such great beauty.
400daystil40
April 4, 2012 at 04:37
Yes, I agree with you wholeheartedly! 🙂
irishsignora
April 4, 2012 at 04:51
Here’s a tip from my daughters (aged 4 and 3): lay on your belly, on the ground, and watch how many living things crawl and wriggle past. They passed a pleasant couple of hours doing that this morning, and regaled me all throughout lunchtime with their descriptions of all the wee beasties they had seen. I’m planning to join them tomorrow!
400daystil40
April 5, 2012 at 04:35
What a gorgeous tip! Did you end up joining them? I LOVE being able to experience the world through the eyes of a child! 🙂
irishsignora
April 5, 2012 at 04:41
Not today, but after the mayhem that’s going to constitute our morning tomorow, I am ABSOLUTELY going to join them for at least half an hour in the afternoon!
rabidmongoose
April 4, 2012 at 05:37
I love trail-running and hiking because I feel closer to God out in the beauty of His creation than anywhere else. Looknig out the window at the cherry blossoms now, I can feel His grace and peace.
400daystil40
April 5, 2012 at 04:33
I agree, I also have felt that in those places of nature I feel that my spiritual nature and my need to connect on those levels increases (or perhaps in those moments I am finally quiet enough and focused enough to be able to care about connection( 🙂
Cubicle Dummy
April 4, 2012 at 08:20
Nature is God’s gift to humanity. After a long stressful day, I like taking a walk in the park surrounded by lots of trees. I’m in Denver, CO right now and the mountains are beautiful. We all need to relax more and enjoy life.
400daystil40
April 5, 2012 at 04:31
Yes, we definitely do. I have found that no matter where I have visited in this world… the middle east, africa, asia – there is always beauty in nature to be discovered and cherished. 🙂
Spider42
April 4, 2012 at 13:05
Been saying for ages that people need to step back and look at the world around them and marvel at all that we’ve got and could be instead of being wrapped up in their self-obsessed delusions or fundamentalistic obstinacy and the like, but the ones who listen are few and far between.
Still… I like to think that even one out of a few is worth the effort of beating your head against those walls.
I would VERY heavily recommend you check out a movie called Baraka if you haven’t yet and DEFINITELY for the nature aspect of things watch Home which is available here:
http://home-2009.com/us/index.html
400daystil40
April 5, 2012 at 04:29
Yes, yes, I couldn’t agree with you more… and it is true, if you can get through to just one person, it is often worth all the effort! 🙂
timzauto
April 4, 2012 at 16:27
AWESOME POST ….hope you get it figured out…lol following closely …http://timzauto.wordpress.com/
400daystil40
April 5, 2012 at 04:28
Thanks so much – Yes, it will be interesting to see what I get figured out by when! 😛
addicttoaddict
April 4, 2012 at 16:41
Nature. For me it’s a part of what keeps me healthy. I become more the person I really am the more I am in nature, and less the person I really am when I stay away from nature. I’ll have to remember to take that walk…
400daystil40
April 5, 2012 at 04:27
I understand completely… and the key is to find/ make time to take those walks so that we can be who we really are.
The Quiet Borderline
April 4, 2012 at 20:32
Whilst I do deep breathing to relieve anxiety or just to relax, I imagine I am on a white sanded beach, with a tropical ocean in front of me. I smell the smells, hear the ocean, feel the white warm sand fall through my hands.
We can take a lot from beautiful nature without even needing to be there.
The Quiet Borderline
http://quietbpd.wordpress.com/
400daystil40
April 5, 2012 at 04:25
What a wonderful point! Yes, indeed – we can also gain a lot from envisioning ourselves within nature.
appletonavenue
April 4, 2012 at 20:57
Just to share the beauty around us: I had a wonderful day yesterday and walked in the lovely spring sunshine, seeing the grass coming in, hearing the birds overhead. Just a short walk into the woods and I feel renewed. Thanks for the reminder to notice nature.
400daystil40
April 5, 2012 at 04:24
You are welcome, and also so right that just a short walk can have big effects on our mental health! 🙂
balancethroughthelens
April 5, 2012 at 04:12
One of the most beautiful things about this blog world is encountering all of these wonderful souls who share a deep appreciation for nature, its beauty, serenity, and restorative powers. Beautifully written blog and beautiful photos! You described perfectly why I spend so much time and nature as well as why I blog about it! Great post.
400daystil40
April 5, 2012 at 04:39
Yes, yes, I agree! It is such a gift to be able to connect with so many wonderful people in the blogging world!!!!! Thanks for the compliments! They mean a lot! 🙂