Day 8 — Moved by Beauty.
This week, we begin a new movement.
The tiny gratitude seeds we planted last week have begun to sprout. A tender green shoot has broken through the earth.
There’s something wonderfully moving about witnessing those first tender signs of life.
And that’s what our second week is all about:
Opening — Allowing Yourself to Be Touched by Life.
Today, on day 8, we’re going to do something a little different.
Rather than listening to me talk, I’d like to invite you to watch a short scene from the film American Beauty.
It’s a little over three minutes long. But trust me, it’s worth those few extra seconds.
Find a quiet moment, settle in, and give it your full attention.
And when it’s over, don’t be in a hurry to move on.
Give yourself a little time to linger with whatever the scene may have stirred in you.
And as you move through your day, perhaps you’ll discover that life has its own unexpected ways of touching us.
To watch the video, use the “Read more” button then click on the image below.
I’ve watched this movie several times, one for a course on a film that I was leading. It never fails to move me. It’s fascinating to me how something that could inspire revulsion, a piece of trash, could give rise to this beautiful reflection on what it means to feel truly alive. It reminds me always that there is so much beauty in this sometimes messy, sometimes chaotic and broken world and allowing yourself to encounter it can bring about a deep sense of gratitude. 🙏