Restorative Beauty

Every day, we are surrounded by beauty. In nature, in the handiwork of our fellow humans, in art and architecture. But to take time to notice and savor that beauty is in some way to create it anew. Is a thing still beautiful without humans making meaning out of it? A face can be symmetrical, or a sunset colorful, but it takes the eye of the beholder to bring beauty into these things. Let us create and share beauty in this way, with our mindful attention. Let us take note of it, and let it soothe and uplift us as we go about our days. Beauty has the power to restore the spirit. This challenge offers a chance to build emotional resilience, practice mindful attention, and strengthen social bonds.

Habit:

Notice something beautiful

Daily:

Share something beautiful (take a photo to share, point something out to someone, give someone a flower or a picture or a special shell or stone, send someone a beautiful song or read them a beautiful poem–be creative!)

To Do:

Look at some art

Pay attention to some architecture

Examine something in nature

Reflection:

This month’s challenge centered around an insight that I had in February (that was later echoed in the book Sacred Rest that I posted about recently): that beauty in art and nature has a restorative power in the midst of overwork. Not just bread, but roses, too. For me, that centered very much around sunshine filtering through freshly brewed tea in a china teacup, appreciating my collection of mineral specimens and semi-precious stones, and researching tattoo ideas online. Everyone’s beauty is individual!