A Beautiful Day

I walked the dog this morning and could not stop realizing what a beautiful day it is.  It's clear, sunny and cool.  The trees were flowing in a slow breeze that brushed across my face.  The greens and the flowers were vibrant as the natural light of the sun made natures gift a blessing.

Zita only noticed the smell of other dogs on this beautiful landscape, but that's all she needs to make her happy.  Every time she stopped to smell, I stopped to appreciate the beauty of my neighborhood.  I'm so lucky.

I grew up in the streets of Philadelphia.  When there was a day like today I didn't appreciate it.  The neighborhood was not conducive to appreciation.  There were no trees or flowers.  There were six foot lawns that connected to the sidewalk.  Most of the lawns we not groomed.  The sidewalk was connected to the blacktop street.  Polls with electric wires hang overhead.  No beauty was illuminated from the sun.

Now that I have learned to take a step back and appreciate the wonderful life I have, I feel bad for the people and especially kids that live in projects.  I now realize that surroundings have an effect on a person's mental well being.  I now realize that the negative energy of a neighborhood can affect a person's outlook on life.

My parents never understood this phenomenon.  If they had, I'm sure we would have driven to a beautiful scenic place on a great day like today.  Even getting a few days of positive energy might have given me a better base to create a happier life.  As it was, at thirty nine, I had to figure it out with the help of a Mentor.

Some say that you appreciate more when you finally get something you never had.  I have to agree with that statement because it is my life.  However, it would have been nice to not have to overcome so much stuff so late in life.  It would have been nice to look at natures beauty on a wonderful day like today when I was much younger.

They say stop and smell the roses.  I stopped today.  I didn't have any roses, but I did have other beauty all around me - and I really appreciated it.