The mundane moments of midday in downtown Albany may not look like much to the casual observer. Having been that casual observer on many a day, I understand that I don’t always notice the subtle beauty of what is around me, not when my mind is distracted by work issues or other worries, not when I forget to be mindful and present as I’m rushing to make a bank deposit or grab a cup of coffee.
On those days that I do pause and remember to pay attention, the city reveals pockets of beauty that aren’t striking or obvious. They’re in the lines of faded buildings and closed restaurants, in the cracks of sidewalks and the mottled unevenness of parking lots. I find beauty in the random chair placed against a building, in the way it makes me wonder how it came to be there, and imagine who might have used it for rest or respite.
Maybe beauty, however we find it, is simply meant to make us a little more thoughtful, a little more careful of how we see the world, and of how we see others in the world.
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