The towering trees of Goldstream Provincial Park offer a welcoming embrace as you wander through the pristine park’s network of trails. The ancient evergreens climb to the sky, their green canopies filtering sunlight into scattered patches that dance on the forest floor. But if you’re willing to take a closer look, to lower your gaze from the celestial to the terrestrial, you’ll find an entire universe right at your feet.

I was captivated by this miniature world—an easily overlooked space, yet bursting with life and intricate details. Patches of mosses spread across the ground like green blankets, contrasting against the dark, decaying leaves that had fallen in prior seasons. Amidst them, tiny fungi rise like natural skyscrapers from the residue, and the more you look, the more you find: from the intricate web of a spider to small plants poking through the organic carpet, aspiring to one day become as towering as their ancient neighbors.

The thrill of this discovery lies in its intricacy. This is where life begins, in the decomposed matter that fuels the growth of these tiny organisms, which in turn lays the foundation for the towering trees and the animals that call them home. It’s a symphony of co-existence, the hum of nature that you can only hear if you make space to listen.

This thought reminded me of Andy Warhol’s words, “You need to let the little things that would ordinarily bore you suddenly thrill you.” We’re conditioned to seek grandeur, look up and out, and be constantly mesmerized by the ‘big picture.’ But sometimes, we find the most astonishing beauty in the minutiae, in the delicate balance of life that thrives beneath the layers of what we usually see.

This image I captured in Goldstream Provincial Park isn’t just a photograph; it’s a reminder—a moment of pause, a lesson in humility, and an invitation to marvel at life’s complex simplicity. Each time I look at this snapshot, I will be reminded to let “the little things that would ordinarily bore me suddenly thrill me.” I hope it serves the same purpose for you.

As you go about your week, may you find your eyes drawn to the small, the overlooked, the underappreciated aspects of the world around you. May you discover joy in the ordinary and carry that newfound thrill into every facet of your life. I will try to do the same.

Thanks for a great morning, Juli!

Jeff Turner

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