The more you pay attention to the natural world, the more fascinating it becomes.
This week, a friend’s blog post reminded me about the importance of reveling in the complexity and beauty of life on this planet. Too often we get caught up in the big issues, the big problems, and the awful feeling that we’re headed for doom. It’s an unpleasant side-effect of paying attention to the environment.
But, in order to have a future we really want—one that is bursting with life, with nature—we have to be able to envision it. And, we can’t do that if we don’t even see and appreciate what’s out there under our noses.
Once in while, try simply noticing. Just notice.
If necessary, put on some rose-colored glasses.

Even earthworms are pretty cool. Did you know they’re non-native? They arrived via boat like most of the rest of us. Still, I like them. I did this watercolor illustration for my Nevada Wildlife Project. It shows a slice of wet meadow habitat in the Steptoe Valley of Nevada.
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Check out the blog post by Trileigh Tucker:
I have been paying attention to the fantastic webs that our friends around the house have been spinning. I especially appreciate the ones I to often come in contact with, generally with my face!
There was one spider that kept spinning her web right across the front door, and every day she got swept aside. Finally, she learned and decided to spin it higher so I could walk underneath. Smart.
So very true and just lovely…. Pay attention! As Mary Oliver says. 🙂
Yes! Remembering to just pay attention–that’s the thing.