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Taking notice. Savoring the sunset.

What do you actually see in any given everyday of the week? As you journey through your have-tos and responsibilities, did you notice the sunset? Did you stop to really notice it?

The inability or choice to not stop and notice the evanescent beauty of a sunset can reflect a couple of things: we are zooming so fast through our life that we genuinely didn't even look up to see it or maybe weren't even outside or didn't have a window to see it through; our attention is driven by survival, so to notice such 'good' details is a luxury we don't feel comfortable taking notice of; or we don't see the value or aren't aware of the nourishment that taking notice of such details that are out of our control offers us, so we don't give our attention or focus, let alone stop. 

I am quite confident that many of you in TSLL community reading this actually do  take time to stop and drink up the beauty of a sunset, a sunset such as the one I pulled over to stop at a viewpoint to gaze at Mt. Washington while driving home from Portland earlier this week. I have a feeling many of you would have done the same if you happened to have found yourself driving over the Santiam Pass at the precise time that the sun began its tucking into night causing the light reflecting off off the snow to begin to shine. 

And because of your awareness to soak up this beauty found without your involvement, but solely for you to take notice of and savor, today's letter is merely a reminder of the importance to do so.

As shared above in the reasons people may not savor such an awe-inspiring, fleeting moment, is the errant assumption that to stop and see fully what Mother Nature is giving us is wasted time, of no value, but actually, it is of great value and provides a grounding to strengthen our conscious awareness muscle in what will actually provide lasting contentment. 

When we view and savor a sunset, we are exercising the muscle of awareness and seeing the now, of being present, and most importantly, of not wanting more than what already is. If we can catch ourselves not being satisfied with what is, we then can bring ourselves back to the present, and in doing that, we give more quality focus, and thus our full energy to what needs our attention right now. Whether what needs our full attention is savoring a sunset, or solving a problem that needs all that we can give to it. 

On your list of 'have-to's why not include stopping to savor the sunset, an enjoyable exercise that will only serve to strengthen a skill to bring you more contentment and a grounding peace to fill your days no matter what obstacles you, or the world, may be navigating.

Now to the newsletter. A newsletter sharing inspiration and motivation to elevate your everydays with the regular Monday motivational post, bursting full This & Thats, shopping finds for packing for a visit to Paris in the spring, a detailed photo tour of TSLL's latest update at Le Papillon and still more. Thank you for subscribing, and until Monday March 31st, I will see you on the blog.  

Bonne journée,

—Shannon