The Gift of Awareness: A Story of Finding Beauty in the Present

Once upon a time, on the mountain above a quaint little village nestled in a valley somewhere in Europe, there lived a wise old man named Albert. He was known far and wide for his remarkable awareness. Albert had a unique gift; he could see the subtlest details of life that others often missed and lived a vibrant, rich and full life. He lived the simple life of a hermit and sometimes came down to the village for supplies. The villagers would ask him to help them with various issues.

One sunny morning, as Albert strolled through the village with his walking staff, his white hair and flowing robes gently blowing in the breeze, a group of children gathered around him. They admired his impressive presence, warm smile and deep wisdom and begged him to tell them a story. They loved his stories and were always left with some food for thought. Often the adults would also join in as part of the audience. Albert smiled at the eager faces and decided to share a story about awareness. His wise eyes twinkling, he sat down on a wooden bench and began his tale:

“In this very village, not so long ago, there lived a young boy named Leonard. Leonard was always in a hurry, running from one task to another. He was in a hurry to grow up, to earn a lot of money, to get married, to start a family,” Albert paused for effect and the children held their breath, “and… Leonard was in a hurry to grow old and die!”

The children let out a collective breath with an “Oooh!” as their eyes widened.

“You see,” Albert continued, “that is what people hurry towards, without even realising it!” He paused again and let his words sink in. Some of the adults present exchanged glances.

“Well, our Leonard, he never seemed to have time to enjoy the simple pleasures around him. He hurried past the chirping birds and the fragrant flowers, his mind preoccupied with thoughts of what needed to be done next. His beautiful wife managed their humble home and craved a little bit of attention from him, but he was always busy doing something or the other.

One day, while rushing to the market, Leonard stumbled upon a beautiful butterfly resting on a flower. Its wings were a vibrant blend of colours, like a work of art coloured by the rainbow itself. Leonard registered it from his peripheral vision but he barely noticed and flicked it away, annoyed that it delayed him. The beautiful creature rose and flew away, far, far away…”

The children listened intently, captivated by Albert’s storytelling.

“Leonard continued on his way, but the image of the butterfly lingered in his mind. The vibrance of its colours had stuck in his mind somehow and everything looked dull in comparison to him as he went about his various tasks. His day seemed to be a blur of unidentified, dull, drab mud-hues and colours. As he sat down to gobble his food before recommencing his day, he realized that he had missed something extraordinary. His heart felt heavy and his eyes were wet with unshed tears as if he had lost something precious.

He wiped his eyes dry, slowed down and suddenly found himself enjoying the meal his wife had prepared for him, which took him by surprise. The flavours burst in his mouth. Suddenly the day wasn’t as dull as before! From that moment, Leonard made a conscious effort to slow down and be present in the world around him.

A few days later, he saw the butterfly again, and this time, he stopped to admire its beauty. He watched it dance in the warm sunlight, and a sense of peace washed over him.

He began to notice things more, the changing seasons, the kindness in people’s eyes, and the laughter of children. He began to compliment his beautiful wife more often, and appreciate her cooking flavourful meals for him and noticed the wetness in her eyes. His heart melted and swelled with gratitude for the simple joys he’d been missing.

As time passed, Leonard’s newfound awareness transformed his life. He became a beloved figure in the village, known for his ability to appreciate all the small wonders in life. He taught others to pause, observe, and find joy in the present moment. Not much later his wife died, leaving him alone and he was grateful that he had spent at least the last few months being more present with her.

Eventually, he left the village to build himself a hut on the top of the mountain and dedicate himself to living the life of a hermit, rising with the Sun at dawn and enjoying every moment of nature.”

Albert paused, his sparkling eyes twinkling and looked at the children.

“And so, my dear friends, the story of our Leonard shows us that awareness is a precious gift. In our lives, made busy by whatever we wish to fill it with, it is easy to overlook the beauty and grace that surround us and to appreciate the people we have around us while they are with us.” A dark shadow crossed his eyes and he continued, “But, but… when we take the time to truly see and experience the world, we discover a profound sense of wonder and contentment.” His voice drifted off and it seemed that he had become lost somewhere in his thoughts.

The children quietly rose and left Albert that day with a new appreciation for the world around them. They, too, started to notice the intricacies of life, and the village seemed to bloom with newfound beauty. And, just like Leonard, they learned that awareness was the key to unlocking the hidden treasures of existence, making their lives more enriched and meaningful.

Albert got up slowly from the wooden bench and made his way to the village shop where he would gather his supplies. He smiled his thanks at the shopkeeper who was a few decades younger than him and then walked up the mountain to his humble abode.

Another villager came to the shop and narrated the story Albert had shared with the shopkeeper, who began to grin from ear to ear. “That isn’t a story, it is Uncle Leo Albert’s own life’s narrative!” he said. “We used to call him ‘Leo-on-the-go’!

Leonard Albert watched the setting Sun from the top of the mountain and walked back into his hut, closing the door behind him. He never came down again.

The story became a cherished legend in the village, a reminder that true riches lie not in what we have but in how deeply we can appreciate the world with open eyes and an open heart.

As a mindfulness practitioner and life-design coach, I help clients focus on well-being and personal growth and make life choices that prioritize their mental and emotional health. I work with them to resolve confidence issues and Imposter Syndrome. This leads to personal freedom and independence allowing the person to blossom and manifest the life they deserve. If you’re looking to expand your horizons and/or overcome issues, connect with me.