Rashida Wright

I felt the Lord nudging me to go on a walk a couple of weeks ago. There is a path I like to take that is unpaved. To get to it, I walk through our well-planned subdivision and onto the road, without a sidewalk with just grass, standalone homes, some trash, and pretty wildflowers along the way. That day, as I walked along this path, my shoes began to pick up extra dirt and dead grass, and I was doing my best to stay away from the oncoming traffic that kept whizzing by me. It doesn’t sound like the most picturesque walk, huh? But as I kept going, one foot in front of the other, I felt a sense of peace — a sense of focus. And all I could see was the beauty in a simple walk, distancing myself from the norm. In the moment I was so calm, and my mind was clear. As I kept marching on this unbeaten path, I noticed that the residents of the standalone homes were all outside, celebrating birthdays or just enjoying quality time outdoors with family and friends. I saw one of my favorite birds, the ruby red cardinal, and I listened to them sing a beautiful song in the newly green trees (they have such gorgeous voices for birds). And, even though there was trash all around me and dirt rubbing on my clothes, all I experienced was the ease of the day, pink primroses, and the peace of God surrounding me. I didn’t need to go on an elaborate hike or do some fancy getaway. I experienced the relaxation I needed right there in my backyard, so to speak.

It’s In the Ordinary

And I realized then that there is beauty in simplicity, the small details, the mundane, everyday parts of life. If we look in the right direction, focusing on the good in front of us, we can enjoy the amazing things surrounding us daily. As I was walking, I noticed the trash, the empty beer bottles, cans, and random scraps from some of the new builds nearby. And I thought to myself, most people would see this trash and wonder why I enjoy walking here so much. It’s a little dirty. However, each time I noticed the litter, I also noticed a patch of blooming primroses, or a bluebonnet standing out against the green grass. I even saw sheep (such peaceful animals) and a turtle in a small pond nearby. Even though there is trash and what others would call weeds, I saw beauty. There were no frills in my walk. However, I experienced a rejuvenating and relaxing atmosphere that made me appreciate God’s goodness in the things and people around me.

It’s About The Company You Keep

My little sister, who is in her mid-teens, really enjoys fishing, and earlier that day, my mom promised her she would take her to catch some fish later. We (my mom, sister, and brother) decided to head down to one of her favorite fishing spots and watch her catch some fish. We packed some goodies to eat and headed down to the river. Again, it was unassuming, with no fancy chairs, music, or takeout. Just home-prepped food, store-bought snacks, fishing rods, and a small net. We laughed, played in the water, and tried to catch some fish (my sister was on fire that day). It was a great ending to an already relaxing day. I even spotted a couple of cardinals while sitting by the river.

It’s About The Moment

After we made it home, I couldn’t help but think about all the stress we put on ourselves to get gussied up to “head out” for a good time. We spend exorbitant amounts of time and money trying to “have fun” (myself included) when it’s truly about the people you’re with and making the most of the situation. It almost hurts to think how much of an investment I have personally put into frivolous nights only to come home and be slightly irritated and a few dollars lighter. I can’t get that time or money back from all those unnecessary outings. However, I can appreciate the simpler things in life and try to enjoy them more often. It’s not to say that fancy, more elaborate things aren’t nice. I believe it’s ok to like and experience nice things. But, when you truly boil it all down and think back to the days you enjoyed/ remembered the most, well, at least for me, it’s usually the days with the minimal fanfare and simple origins that were the most impactful. Life is too short to be stressed about what to wear, how to appear to others, and spending so much money you don’t have on an evening you may forget about in a couple of weeks. I’m learning to embrace the time I have, find the joy in the moment, and take pleasure in the simple things. Our mental and spiritual health will thank us later.