Have you ever been to Sedona, Arizona? If you have, you’ll know that it’s one of the most beautiful, magical places you’ve ever seen and that’s because of the vortex energy and the spectacular red rock mountain formations that encircle the city in an embrace everywhere you look. I don’t even know how to describe it to you if you haven’t been there but take it from me, the mountains that surround the tiny town of Sedona are literally breathtaking.

I’m lucky enough to lead an annual women’s divorce recovery retreat in Sedona and this year, we booked into a new hotel that boasted of mountain views from every room. I was delighted! The thought of sitting on my balcony with my coffee in the morning gazing at that view - perfection! So when I arrived and pulled open the curtains to my room and saw this big bushy tree right in front of me, between me and the mountains, I was thrown off. “Hey, where’s my view?”

Do I go to the front desk and try to change my room? I made myself a cup of tea and sat on the balcony to think it through when I heard a quiet sound. I looked up and the cedar tree in front of me was whispering. She said, “What about me? Can you see me? I’m here, I’m green, I’m fresh, I’m actually very lovely. What about me? You’re going to tour around all day long, looking at the red rock mountains, hiking on red rocky trails. They’re beautiful, yes, but maybe you’ll need me at the end of the day.”

Of course! I had so anticipated gazing at the mountains in the distance that I couldn’t see the beauty right in front of my eyes. So I said “thank you” to the cedar tree for the lesson learned - in striving for something you think you want, you might miss the magic right in front of your eyes.

So think about it for a moment. In the intensity of longing for something you have lost, have you lost sight of the precious gifts you still have? Take a breath, take a minute and let yourself appreciate that beauty that lights up your life, in spite of it all.