The world we live in can be a crowded, uncomfortable, and stressful place to be. However, I think most areas have a portion of good to balance out these less favorable qualities. I happen to live in a beautiful place that includes a few of my favorite things – things that don’t exist in much of today’s world.

First, my town is covered with endless variations of green, green, green. When I look at the tree-covered mountain from my front yard, I see continual layers of multiple shapes created by different hues of green. I enjoy each texture and color my eyes encounter as they scan the hillside. When I walk along the trail that follows the side of those hills, there are places where I am entirely encircled by these patterns of green.

Another wonderful quality about the place I live is the quiet of the night when it is peaceful and totally quiet. Not. A. Sound. The birds are resting, there is no traffic, no nightly work, just complete and utter stillness. I usually sleep with the window opened, and sometimes when I awake in the middle of the night, I lay there just to listen to the sound of this amazing nothingness. Oddly enough, this silence is often so absolute that it is an actual sound.

Lastly, a favorite thing about where I live is the night sky’s brilliance. There aren’t many lights around, so the sky puts on an incredible show once the sun goes down. When it is dark, I can step outside my house and easily identify planets, the phase of the moon, and countless constellations. I can pinpoint even a few galaxies and open clusters without binoculars or a telescope. Best of all, I can look up in amazement at the entirety of the Milky Way. Throughout the summer, it paints a mesmerizing path overhead. 

I appreciate the many beauties surrounding the place I live and know that these marvelous secret pleasures exist worldwide. So take some time to look for the good about your place on this earth, and find some of your favorite things. They will be different than mine, but will still bring a measure of contentment and enjoyment to your life each day.