Arched Walkway in Washington DC

 Do your eyes ever get attracted by the stunning architecture around you? Sometimes we go through our days with a destination in mind and forget to take a moment to look up around us.

A few years ago, I took a short trip to Washington D.C. I mainly visited the monuments and museums and stayed in the same area. One day I planned a lunch away from the monuments and walked the few blocks away from the sightseeing area. I turned my head as I was walking along the sidewalk and saw this arched walkway.

I loved it! The stones, the archways, the hanging lights, the windows, the sunlight shining as I was in a recessed darker area. It all combined to take my breath away for a moment. Ah, what I would have missed out on if I had kept my head down and looking straight ahead.

So in your daily life, remember to take those brief moments to look at your journey, not focus just on the destination you are traveling toward. You never know what everyday simple beauty you might experience.

0

Colorful Barn in the Snow

Brightly colored barns stand out so nicely against the fresh, white newly fallen snow. Driving through the countryside on a winter day can be so peaceful. The crisp air, quiet farms, fresh blanket of snow, beautiful animals, majestic towering mountains, and colorful barns combine to create a relaxing excursion.

0

Security Gate - Light and Darkness

Last year I took a photography class that was held at a local high school. One week we focused on the art of black and white photography. I was leaving the class and walking down a deserted hallway at the school when I saw this security gate. The contrast in light and dark was so stark and moving to me at the time.

0

Payson Temple Cloudy Sky

"As we enter through the doors of the temple, we leave behind us the distractions and confusion of the world." ~ President Thomas S. Monson

I love the feeling of peace I have when visiting the grounds of LDS temples.

0

Red Tractor in Barn

I'm not sure what it is about farms and old barns, but I'm drawn to them. Maybe it's that from my side of the camera, farms are peaceful. The tractors making long lines back and forth through the growing hay, animals grazing in the fields, the wind softly blowing through the golden grasses, the sun shining down to make everything golden.

All I know is when I drive through the countryside, I long for the peace that I feel there to be in my daily busy life in town.

0

Abandoned Building at Sunset

There is an old abandoned building close to my house. At one time it was part of a business, but now it sits at the edge of a field, empty and mostly forgotten.

For some reason, I love stopping to look at it when walking near our home. I was out one day at sunset and looked over at the building in the soft, golden glow of the setting sun. I thought it looked beautiful sitting there by the plowed fields, slightly run down and a memory of better years of the farming community nearby

It's interesting to stop and look at this forgotten and falling down building and see the beauty in it. Take time to stop in your daily life to look at things differently and notice the natural beauty in the world around you.

0