I never cease to be amazed by Nature. Look at this single flower? Isn’t it both glorious and extraordinary? The colours and the form both astonish me.
What impresses me first is the beauty of this plant. Beauty is an interesting phenomenon, isn’t it? What makes something beautiful? It’s not something that stands up to analysis or logic. You can’t draw up a list of criteria and then tick the requisite boxes.
You’ll be familiar with the phrase “beauty is in the eye of the beholder”. That implies that there’s an element of taste, and that’s true, isn’t it? What I find beautiful, you might not, and vice versa.
The most important point about beauty is that it’s an experience. It’s not something “out there”, just waiting to be discovered. But it’s such an important part of daily experience.
The more we encounter beauty, the more we experience delight, joy and wellbeing. I don’t think it’s stretching things too far to say beauty is good for your health.
I’m sure it’s a good idea to stay aware and to pause to enjoy whatever you find beautiful….a plant, an animal, a work of art….
But I don’t recommend enjoying beauty for some utilitarian reason….It’s sufficient unto itself.
Heroes Not Zombies 
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