Among the lessons I’ve learned along the trails: look down.

It’s not just that I need to watch the rocks and roots trying to trip me up. Sometimes, there are amazing surprises waiting for me when I shift my gaze.

I came across a certain waterfall on a hike a long time ago, and I started taking photos from this angle and that angle, determined to get The Ultimate Shot. Suddenly, something caught my eye, and I looked down. There, two feet away from me, I saw a butterfly.

Very still, very colorful, it had arranged itself on an equally colorful flower as if it were waiting for me. It’s the centerpiece of the day’s best photo. It’s actually one of my all-time favorites.

I would have missed it altogether if I hadn’t looked down.

Enjoy the unexpected, wherever you go.