Suburban Subdivisions Are Beautiful
Reframing how we approach the ordinary
I frequently go on walks with my dog/personal assistant, Nala. We live in what one might call a cookie-cutter suburban neighborhood. Despite the 4 different floor plans seen throughout the neighborhood, there are many ways in which it is not cookie cutter.
Our slice of suburban paradise is located in the middle of a fairly rural area, we don’t have sidewalks or an HOA, and unlike many developments, every house does not look the exact same.
Yet, there are only so many ways to walk through any neighborhood. There are 3 ways I can walk my dog if I’m feeling up to a shorter walk(which is always the case in these temperatures) or up to 5 ways for longer walks.
So, as one might imagine, it can get repetitive rather quickly.
As an antidote to the repetition, I try to notice the little things when we walk every day. The plants that are blooming more than they were yesterday, the beautiful contrast between the day lilies and the roses outside of that one house, the shapes of the clouds in the sky- I try to approach it all as if I’ve never seen it before, with a perspective of awe.
It’s not easy, but I think it’s important.
