Sometimes it surprises me the things people pass up without seeing the beauty in them. I was walking downtown yesterday after visiting an art gallery, and this old window down a side alley caught my eye. I watched a dozen people at least walk right past it, with no notice. I stopped, walked down the alley, and admired it. The textures, the history, the color, the stories that it could tell. Stories of forgotten places. Or of embracing imperfection boldly. Or of a lifetime of industry that once ruled these streets. Or maybe more metaphorical stories like the forgotten, discarded dreams that are often trapped inside us.

I wonder if people take for granted simple old things just because they are so commonplace in the city. Would more people see an old window like this differently if they were more rare? Would they see what I see if they spent more of their time making art? What makes some of us see beauty where others do not?

I think it’s a wonderful exercise that anyone can find value in too. Go for a walk near your home and spend time looking… really looking, at what’s around you and how unique and beautiful it all is. Sometimes you can be surprised by what you find when you take the time to really look.