The longer I live the more beautiful life becomes.

-Frank Lloyd Wright

Since I was a small child I have appreciated the beauty of nature. I remember savoring the smell of sunshine on pine needles, the burble of a stream, and walks in the woods noticing the the warm color of fallen trees with exposed bare wood. Although noticing beauty isn’t new to me, the way I notice has changed.

At a recent retreat I shared the above quote during a journaling session, asking people to write about the things that have become more beautiful to them as they’ve gotten older. This quote has been on my wall of wisdom for quite a while, but as my friends were writing their answers it gave me time to think more deeply about my own response.

There was the obvious answer of nature. I now not only notice it but actually seek it out on walks, my head turning from side to side then up and down. I like to notice the small details of buds becoming blossoms, raindrops, or a visitor such as an ant, bee or ladybug. It’s a bit of a treasure hunt, looking for the small things that are overlooked when people travel at a faster pace.

In this quiet time of considering I thought about other things that had grown more beautiful to me. I absolutely delight in love filled hugs and one on one conversation. It’s not enough to get together with a friend. I want to listen deeply when they share their stories. I want to know what delights them, hurts their heart, and what they’re learning.

Words have also become more beautiful. I read slowly, sometimes rereading a sentence or a whole paragraph. I’ve written out several quotes and put them up on my dining room wall, thus creating my wall of wisdom. And my phone has a large note section filled with even more quotes. Some words must be kept and read again.

The biggest change has been the beauty I see in the faces of people I love. As I get older, my friends and family are doing the same. There are now grey hairs, wrinkles and scars on myself and some of my friends and family. These things are the mere packaging of the beautiful souls who have abundantly blessed my life. We have gone through and grown through life together, creating tender and happy memories along the way. I can’t think of anything more beautiful than that.