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Contrast can often be the catalyst that causes us to notice the world around us.

This Labor Day weekend has been a great time for hiking in nearby Glacier National Park. Autumn is on the way and the first snows have sprinkled a sparkling white dusting on the high mountain peaks. On a hike a few days ago, I was struck by the contrast of the stark white snow against the lush, verdant green of our Montana summers.
P1090228Moving to Montana from Colorado more than a year ago, I had forgotten just how lush and green Montana is, as compared to Colorado. We just get used to what’s around us and sometimes forget to recognize and fully appreciate the beauty. On this hike just after the first snow, I was struck by the fact that it was the whiteness of the white that accentuated the green of the green.
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The meadows, covered with a gorgeous blanket of wildflowers, provided a sharp contrast to the backdrop of the jagged, snow covered peaks.

My mind works in metaphors and I couldn’t help but think that it’s the same in life. So many times we have such amazing beauty and abundance around us, but it takes contrast and challenge for us to even see it, let alone fully recognize the beauty around us.

Just like it takes a rainy day to help us appreciate the sunny ones, the contrast of the white snow against the backdrop of the mountains helped me to appreciate the luxuriant green that was about to be covered with the coldness of winter.
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How many times in our life do we forget to celebrate and be grateful for the lushness of life, only to pine for it when adversity threatens to bury us?

Today, take the time to appreciate the green in your life- even if it feels like you’re the mountain and life is the snow. Take the time to identify, recognize and appreciate the things in your own life that provide richness and beauty to you.

No matter who we are or where we are in life, to everything there is a season and we will all have snow. The secret is to appreciate the juiciness in the moment when its right in front of us. Go find and celebrate the lush richness in your  life today and write and share your experience with us.

Thanks for being such an important part of our community. Know that we appreciate you- especially in this very moment, right now… today.

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Gail Lynne Goodwin is the founder of InspireMeToday.com, bringing the best inspiration to the world. InspireMeToday.com provides free inspiration, each day from a new Inspirational Luminary, to a global community of folks from over 150 countries. Gail has interviewed many well-known names including Sir Richard Branson, Guy Laliberte, Seth Godin, Tony Hseih, Gary Vaynerchuk, Michael Gerber, Marci Shimoff, Jack Canfield and hundreds more. According to Mashable, Gail was one of 2009's Top 25 Most Inspirational People on Twitter.

Prior to InspireMeToday.com, Gail spent several years as manager for her recording artist daughter, Carly. As a result of the success of their co-penned song, "Baby Come Back Home", Gail accompanied her daughter to bases in the US and to Guantanamo Bay, Cuba where Carly performed for our troops. Gail and Carly created the 'World's Longest Letter' of love and support and delivered the 18-mile long scroll on a month-long tour of Iraq and the Persian Gulf in 2006.

Gail is excited to present her latest course, Love in 21 Days, a step-by-step guide to finding love online. Love in 21 Days is founded on a logical process that has been tested - and proven! - by not only Gail, but also by students around the world who too have found love.

Gail is a published author and a regular writer for the Huffington Post. She offers mentoring and mastermind services to clients worldwide from her home in Whitefish, Montana. Follow Gail on Twitter or Google+.

This Post Has One Comment

  1. …and sometimes it’s just perspective. Snow might be cold, but it’s the source of the water that makes the green possible–and sometimes it’s just plain fun! (snowball fight, snow angels, swishing downhill in a cloud of fresh powder…..) and yes, its SO good to notice the richness of the present moment regardless of what it holds. I’ve had one of the hardest years in a very long time, and yet in the midst of it have sometimes been overcome with joy at the beauty in my life, the support of friends.

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