“How often do we fail to take-in, or even notice, the good moments of our lives?” -Renate Donnovan

The biggest headlines in the newspaper is usually about bad stuff happening to people, while the good news often takes a back seat, later in the paper. There have been instances though where a successful transplant or quadruplets overcoming the odds to survive a known problem for children in multiple birth situations make the front pages, at least in part.

I’m currently following a 30-Day Possibility Challenge with Renate Donnovan, a counselling hypnotist and coach. We’re past the half-way mark now. Each day has had a new challenge, concerning some different aspect of our lives and how we process it. Sometimes it’s as simple as doing something we like to do and enjoying the moments. That day I did some sewing on a project that I’d been looking forward to, something for my older granddaughters. Another day we thought about times when we were taking on responsibility that belonged to another. And we were to just focus on the area of responsibility that belonged to us.

Today’s challenge is about noticing “the good moments in our lives and really take them in and be aware.” So we’re focusing on something positive.

And then she asked, “So, what would have to happen for it to be possible for me to just receive and take-in the beauty around me?”

The answer to this could be simply to rethink how we process all the stimuli that comes to us in a day, over the radio waves, in the newspaper and from people around us. It doesn’t mean we shut out the entire world and all its trouble to focus on these questions, but making some time to ponder the questions and acting on them. It can mean that we allow for healing moments. It may mean acknowledging God here, too, in the beauty around us.

Today I will take some time to stand in my garden, acknowledging the beauty of creation, the simple but beautiful blooms in my yard and those around me. I will also take in the beauty of a baby’s reaction to another’s smiles, for today I will see my youngest granddaughter who’s learning about the world around her through her senses of taste, touch, sight. I’ll enjoy watching her.