I am incredibly fortunate to be surrounded by beauty every day. I have a lovely home with lovely things inside it, a scenic drive to and from work, and I receive surprise gifts on a regular basis. I feel like I’m living a charmed life and I credit it all to one thing: I’m a beauty addict.

It all started last fall, a few days before my birthday, while I was sitting in rush hour traffic. A brilliant rainbow appeared in the sky and instantly put a smile on my face. I peered around to see if anyone else noticed, but all of the other drivers were busy in their cars talking on cell phones, applying make-up, or staring straight ahead as if in a trance. No one was looking up. 

In that moment, I wished I had a camera in my car to take a picture of that rainbow, perhaps as a gesture of gratitude or proof that the rainbow hadn’t gone unnoticed. I suddenly wondered how many rainbows or sunsets or blooming flowers I had missed as I plowed through life like the drivers around me. I couldn’t stop thinking about it. Within hours, I knew what I needed to do. Starting on my birthday, I would commit to seeking out beauty and taking a picture of it every day for a year.

So on my birthday in 2006, I launched my One Year of Beauty online blog.

My antenna was up that first day, as I was on the lookout for anything and everything I deemed beautiful. I took a lot of pictures as I was out and about, energized by my new project. But as I was driving home, something magical happened. The temperatures dropped suddenly and snowflakes started swirling through the air. When I pulled into my driveway, I actually gasped at the scene: it was as if all four seasons had melded together! Flowers were still in bloom, the grass was a vivid green, gorgeous autumn leaves had fallen to the ground in the wind, and a thin coating of snow blanketed it all. To me, it felt like a gift from the universe – the perfect way to launch One Year of Beauty.

Along the way, I have thought a lot about my definition of beauty. For me, I’ve decided beauty is whatever makes my heart skip a beat when I see it. So, mixed in with the gorgeous sunsets and breathtaking flowers are things like my grandmother’s china dishes, my preschooler sleeping soundly, and even Jerry Seinfeld making a few thousand people laugh. In addition to featuring the photographs, I write a brief posting to describe why I chose each picture and what it means to me. 

I’m amazed by how the blog has affected me. It has forced me to make a daily habit out of searching for beauty. Rather than struggle to find something to photograph each day, which several friends predicted would happen, I actually have a hard time choosing which picture to post most days. Consciously acknowledging the beauty in my midst has awakened my senses and, I believe, attracted even more wonderful things into my life.

The most recent example is the ice angel pictured here. I really believe beauty is the artwork of angels, and there are definitely days when a scene or image is so perfect, I sense that something or someone is working behind the scenes. Just last week, I quickly snapped a picture of some melting ice right by my front doorstep. I liked how the sun was shining on it and I was intrigued by the odd shape of it. It was not until ten minutes later, when I looked at the image on my camera, that I noticed the distinct shape of an angel. If you click on the picture posted on the blog, you will discover the intricate details that even a masterful ice sculptor would have had a hard time creating!  I have absolutely no explanation for what I’m now considering an angel-sighting, but I accept it as an amazing gift and encouragement to keep doing what I’m doing.

Besides, I don’t think I could stop. As I said, I’ve become a beauty addict. By opening my eyes a little wider and seeking out beauty in every form, my perspective on virtually everything in my life has changed for the better.

Photographer Ernts Haas once said, “What we see is what we are.” When you recognize beauty in the things around you, something inside you starts to shine a little brighter. In essence, beauty becomes you.

Start small, committing to seeking out something wonderful each day this week. Or add One Year of Beauty to your online favorites to help you change your mindset about what is beautiful. You, too, have a lovely home filled with lovely things, a scenic drive to work, and gifts just waiting to be discovered. You don’t have to carry a camera around every day to benefit from beauty. Rather than focusing on the dripping bathroom faucet, find something in your home that gives you joy. Seek out simple opportunities to find beauty – visit a local nursery to smell spring, look a little longer at the next art project your child brings home, keep your eyes peeled for birds returning from their winter vacations. And next time you’re stuck in traffic, don’t forget to look up.