This weekend Steve sent me a link to a marvelous commentary by Adam Frank. Mr. Frank talks about the benefits of noticing, especially nature. One benefit he mentions is stress reduction which I had not considered. To quote directly from the article:

In this permanent state of hyperventilation, the issue for us all is not stopping to smell roses. It's not even noticing that there are roses right there in front of us. Joseph Campbell, the great scholar of religion, hit the core of our problem when he wrote, "People say that what we're all seeking is a meaning for life. I don't think that's what we're really seeking. I think that what we're seeking is an experience of being alive."

Steve, a field biologist, notices nature in exactly the way described in the article. I notice a lot, but not in quite the same way which for me is fine. I do know that when my eye is caught by something interesting, whatever is making me crazy fades into the background. Paying attention, noticing, places me in the minute. 

Take a few minutes to read the article and then maybe go outside, take a deep breath, and look around! And then (and here's the trick) remember to do it again, often.