Have you ever driven a long straight stretch of highway and realized the beauty was cut away to create a faster way to travel from point A to point B? This morning my grandson was watching Cars, the animated movie with McQueen and Mader, and I heard a very specific discussion between two of the cars. They were talking about the magnificence of the Grand Canyon and how the road changed the appearance of the area in order to subtract a few minutes off the trip across the desert.

Here in Alaska, much of the terrain is natural. Roads still run through the valleys and around the mountains, along the edge of the oceans and up and down, instead of THROUGH. In a few hours of driving one afternoon, I experienced the magnificence of Alaska, the colors of autumn and the clouds caught on mountain tips, drifting lower into the valleys and for a little while, although vehicles occasionally rushed past us, in a hurry to get somewhere, we slowed down. Life took a stroll and we enjoyed the views.

Occasionally, I slow down long enough to notice my surroundings. A sunrise that brightens my morning, a cup of coffee that fills the air with aroma or the color changing on the trees reveals a part of life that I miss from childhood. Here, I have noticed that part of me endures the rush to encounter the slower pace of living life surrounded by beauty.

Can’t we have both? Must we always be rushing through the business to get to the personal? Do days that end in Y have to pass quickly for the weekend? Why can’t we experience life at a waltz instead of fast stepping our way to the grave?

Today, I realized how important it is to take a deep breath, hold it and slowly let it out, as you experience the benefits of oxygen filling your system. I learned how much I appreciate the color of leaves. I learned that I appreciate the value of life.

What about you? What did you learn today?

I’m going to choose in my life to take the roads that turn, curve around the mountains, pass by the oceans and swoop up and down the hills at a slower pace. I’m living my life with the intent to enjoy the moments.