Several months ago, while our family was visiting friends, we rewatched The Secret Life of Walter Mitty. We loved the movie when it first came out but hadn’t seen it in years. Now, seemingly out of nowhere, my daughter often quotes a line from the James Thurber short story that inspired the film: “Beautiful things don’t ask for attention.”

It’s remarkable how six words can feel both profound and paradoxical. On one hand, many of us grow weary of the endless self-promotion that seems to permeate modern life. On the other, while we may have been taught to be humble and not hog the spotlight, we were also told that to get ahead, advance our careers or gain respect, we must promote ourselves. Most of us aren’t excessive about it; still, I sometimes wonder whether all the noise makes it harder to recognize the truly beautiful things around us.

Another quote that has been echoing in my mind lately comes from the film Train Dreams, based on the novella by Denis Johnson. In it, a character tells the protagonist, “The world needs a hermit in the woods as much as a preacher in the pulpit.” That line struck me deeply. It reminds me that we are all needed—equally—regardless of our education, profession or life circumstances.

In an imperfect world that often rewards volume over quiet value, I’m grateful for these reminders: Truly beautiful things do not demand or need our attention, and each of us has inherent worth simply by being who we are. Perhaps the real challenge is learning to recognize the quiet beauty around us, within us and in each other.

Wishing you a joyful spring filled with beautiful things,

Shannon