Appreciating Your Surroundings.

How many of you have parks near your houses but you have never spent time there? How about the ones with quick fingers booking vacations abroad but you have never been to a local tourist town? If you live in Alberta and you are about to book that trip to Mexico, ask yourself this question, “Have I ever been to Banff, Jasper, Lake Louise, Waterton?”

Don’t get me wrong, there is nothing wrong with going away from home but sometimes we forget about our surroundings and don’t appreciate them as much as we should.

I live in a small city – Yellowknife – and this city has been my hometown for almost 8 years. My hometown is known for the Northern lights and believe it or not I have never seen these lights, only in pictures (what a shame). I have seen so many tourists in town just for these lights. Meanwhile, here I am, taking these lights for granted.

One of the most amazing things about my hometown is the ice castles on one of our lakes. Every winter the Snow King builds this wonderful piece of art. And for the first time this year I took it upon myself to go see the ice castle with my own eyes not just in pictures. It’s actually breath taking in person and that just showed me how amazing God is; to give a man just like you and I the skills to build a castle out of ice.

My point is there is beauty everywhere we look, we just need to take some time, have an open mind, visit our surroundings and take it all in.

They say you never appreciate what you have until its gone. Now can we all prove that statement wrong and start moving around. Go try the food at that unique restaurant down the street. Summer is coming, make use of the trails by jogging, walking or hiking. And of course that park next to your house needs some love too; a workout or picnic at the park sounds fun.

Look around you. What’s that one place within your proximity that you have been taking for granted? I would love to hear all about your surroundings 🙂