Each fall my family takes a trip up the canyon to see the fall leaves. It is truly breathtaking to scan the mountain side full of every hue of orange, red and yellow. We roll the windows down to feel the sting of the fresh crisp fall air and let it fill our lungs with life, hope and renewal. As we wind further up the canyon we pass through sections of the road that drop off on one side and we see the expanse of the canyon and then other sections where we are walled in by paper white Aspen trees reaching their dancing golden coin filled branches to the sky. Covering the ground is a blanket of lush green fern leaves dipping and swaying creating a warm comforting bed for the animals finding their resting homes for the winter.
As we drove in silence, I took in the beauty of the inspiring Aspen forest before me. The sun cascaded through the golden leaves with the clear blue sky as their backdrop. As my gaze lowered I started looking more closely. I realized the forest was full of fallen dead and diseased trees. I noticed rotting trees, ferns, weeds, and a decaying animal carcass. I began to think of all the bugs crawling all round, in and out of the decomposing vegetation. The image was revolting. I was disgusted. In the course of less than 30 seconds I had lost the joy of the ride. I had forgotten all the beauty that was there just a moment ago.
As we neared our destination, we again passed a beautiful valley and it was breathtaking! Our family got out of the car and walked along the paths of Cascade Springs, listening to the brook gently cascade over rolling rocks. Again, I took in the beautifully colored leaves, the contrast of green and reds, browns, yellows and oranges. I also noticed a dog trying to poop on the side of the walk way; a family was in the very spot that I wanted to take a picture , a mother scolding her child and another child needing some scolding and yet another child nearly falling off the small ridge in to the water because no one was watching him. If I had left with only those thoughts the trip would have been a dismal one but I stretched my mind, my thoughts to look past those negative realities to find something else and that is when I noticed other families, couples and friends posing for pictures, walking hand in hand along the bridges and walk ways. I noticed people walking their dogs and laughing with each other. I felt the warm hand of my own husband in mine and watched my girls dancing and skipping along the path. I chose to notice the good - and there was a lot of good. A peace came over me.
There is breathtaking beauty and decaying visions all around us. Is your focus on those things that lift and build, do you have thoughts or participate in activities that bring light and hope and peace? A moment's thoughts for good or bad, can change our perspective of any one or anything and sometimes everything. Imagine the power of change we can make in our lives and in the lives of others when we chose to focus on the positive. It's not about ignoring the negative that exists; it's about choosing to acknowledge that there is more to the picture, more to the story and more to our lives than the negative. There is a wealth of goodness to be found in every situation and in every person - in you!
Let's think good things, speak good things, and we will feel good things about ourselves, others and all that surround us.
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