Rich in What Matters - The Sudden Beauty of Seeing

Fall weather is upon us in the Midwest, a welcome reprieve from the relentless summer heat. These days are gorgeous.

That phrase has been playing through my mind lately, so naturally, when I found myself in my driveway at the same time as my neighbor, that's what I said.

These days are gorgeous.

She nodded solemnly and said, “Yes, but they are just a reminder of what comes next—winter.”

Now, she wasn't wrong, and she's free to interpret the season's change however she chooses. But our pithy conversation got me thinking.

She's missing the here and now.

She's not fully seeing the beauty in these autumn days because she's focusing on the pending winter.

Writer Robert Grudin coined the term “the sudden beauty of seeing.” It's a phase I'm constantly drawn to because it's how I want to live my life.

I want to journey through life truly seeing and experiencing what is in front of me. Mind grounded in the moment—available to soak it in, observe it in detail and linger in it—instead of contemplating what's next, what was, or what could be.

Each season of our lives has gifts. Anchored in the present moment, we suddenly see them.

If fall surrounds me, I want to be fully in fall, absorbing my 3-year-old's expression, furrowed brows over long lashes, as he searches the patch for the perfect pumpkin. I want to watch steam drift upward from hot cider, sink my teeth into candied apples, and laugh with my 5-year-old under a cascade of colored leaves.

If winter surrounds me, I want to be fully in winter, twirling beneath the first snowfall, catching flakes on my tongue. I want to glide over the ice with my 9-year-old and sip hot chocolate overflowing with marshmallows.

Whatever the season, I want to show up for it.

In our fast-paced world teeming with distractions, truly seeing is a practice. But it's one worth embracing.

Because to experience the sudden beauty of seeing, to be truly present to the moment, is to experience life to the fullest.

Here are 7 ways to experience the sudden beauty of seeing:

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Julia Ubbenga is a freelance journalist whose teachings on minimalism, simplicity, and intentional living have reached thousands of people worldwide through her blog. Julia also practices what she preaches in her Kansas City home. She resides with her husband, two extremely lively young daughters, three-year-old son, and baby girl. You can also find her on Instagram.