Autumn is a beautiful time of year for reflection. Maybe you feel the same way. While strolling over a wooden bridge today, kicking leaves and watching the breeze create ripples across a glassy pond, I paused for a moment to, well, pause. I felt a bit like Winnie the Pooh, a scarf neatly tied around my neck there in the forest, holding a stick in my hand meant for casting into the waters below. Seeing such pretty leaves relaxing there, I decided to sit down, legs dangling over the edge, watching. Reflecting. Taking a moment to pause.

You may notice it, but do you really watch the beauty around you? Stop for a moment and appreciate what you have by observing what is around you. There's so much in motion, things we do not see until we ourselves pause... The raw, the untouched, things that human hands did not create, nor never need to touch in order for them to survive. A forest does fine on its own. Could we? The beauty of all the design that is around us. We talk about design so much, why not take your camera outdoors, amazing design is all around you. So many textures, colors, patterns... Even a fuzzy little snail is so well designed, so appealing to the eye, and yet it's roaming the forest - long after this photo was snapped - living life and going about its business.

Growing, living, dying, breathing, changing. Reflecting on nature. The seasons. The golden month of October. These quiet moments give way to even deeper thoughts. Our life. As it is now and where it is heading. The reality of it all. The miracle of being alive. The way it feels to be loved, appreciated, touched. Learning. Exploring. Life is even more special when we allow ourselves to look deeper beyond the surface, to pause and reflect on the deeper things.

Appreciating beauty both seen (fallen leaves) and unseen (a crisp breeze carrying the scent of pine and burning wood in the air) is on my mind today. Natural design. Ridges and swirls and the bark on a tree. Me, a simple bear in the forest, collecting acorns, kicking chestnuts along a path, snapping photos, being alone. Where are you? Perhaps you should find a park today and go for a stroll. Pull out your camera and see what you can find. Snap what inspires you. It could result in your next collection. Your next work of art. An idea for your living room decor. Tell me, what's on your mind today?

(photos by holly becker for decor8)