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Finding the Good: Appreciating Treasures in Plain Sight June 30, 2026 12:42

(golden cosmos flower)

Fawns

It’s been a couple of years since we’ve seen baby deer in our area. Our neighbors have had a few long-term renovation projects that likely altered wildlife traffic in our area. We’ve also had some intense summer storms in the last few years, which may have had an impact, too.

A few weeks ago, I was discouraged to see two coyotes wandering across our property. They were lean, hungry, and clearly on a mission to find food. They will prey on a young fawn in a heartbeat.

Despite all of this, late last week I happened to look outside our front storm door and saw a mama doe with her fawn walking down our driveway.

I sat on the floor, hidden in the shadow of the open main door, and watched them cut across our front yard toward the leafy sanctuary of the side yard. I cried tears of joy upon seeing them. I was so happy they were here and safe from harm.

My husband was watching them through the window from a room at the side of the house. He told me even better news—there were actually TWO fawns. The other one had been waiting for them in the side yard.

Since then, we have only seen Mama Doe and her littles a couple of times, which reinforces for me the notion that just because you can’t see something doesn’t mean it isn’t there. Currently, causes and conditions support their presence and their safety. On those rare occasions when we do catch glimpses of them, we are happy and grateful to see them.

 

(Mama Doe enjoying morning offerings)

(A glimpse of the two fawns)

(I spot some spots!)

***

Flowers

In January of this year, one of my Dharma friends at our Buddhist center in Bloomington gave me a small packet of seeds. They were cosmos seeds harvested from the garden of another Buddhist center in Louisville. My Dharma friend lives near the Louisville area, and he was given the seeds when he attended an event at that center.

I kept this small packet of seeds in a bowl on my kitchen table until spring. In late April, I planted them in a large pot that I kept on our front porch.

I don’t have the best luck with plants, so I wasn’t sure if they would bloom or not, but I maintained a “growth mindset” as I watered them, watched, and waited.

In May, green leaves and stems appeared out of the pot, and by late June, lovely yellow and orange cosmos flowers bloomed from stalks that had grown three feet high.

Each flower is a beautiful offering of hope, and a symbol of connection and interconnection between two Buddhist centers and their respective sangha members.

***

Fireflies

Last night, I was wandering around in the yard hoping to see a glimpse of the Strawberry Moon. I love that we have so many trees in our area, but they proved to be an obstacle in this case. I didn’t see the moon, but I did notice an abundance of fireflies.

The warm summer air has encouraged them to flicker and glow among dark green leaves and grasses. These soft-shelled beetles flew past me, hovering as their bellies blinked messages in fluorescent yellow.

In this case, I was looking for one treasure, but I found an abundance of another on a warm summer night.

 

(Fireflies in a forest: Rain Wu (photographer--courtesy of Unsplash)

***

Taking time to appreciate the good that is all around us, no matter how small, is uplifting.

It is so easy to allow chaos, distractions, and bad news to overwhelm us. Finding the good—the hopeful—the inspiring is a meaningful practice, a practice of appreciation, awareness, and gratitude.

***

I hope you are grateful for all of the treasures that you have found this month, and I hope that July offers even more to appreciate.

Keep practicing, and keep looking for the good!

 

 

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Finding the Good: Appreciating Treasures in Plain Sight Posted on 30 Jun 12:42

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