It’s tough when you live in a place with so much, you don’t realize how much you’re losing. —Dan Hartman

Ever take your surroundings for granted?

Do you ever stop to think about all that you take for granted in your life?

Today pushed us to think about these questions. Yes, this is a new environment for us, but it’s also a place where people live day to day.

Our mentor today was Dan Hartman, a wizened professional photographer / videographer with a wide array of experiences. Through his passionate enthusiasm he drew us right into his world of aspen trees and hairy woodpeckers. His world is one of nature, of animals, of interconnections, and of bountiful wonder.

This world is typically looked at through obscured eyes until you take the time to zoom into the world that is in front of you — to stop and smell the proverbial roses. In today’s adventure we describe this as “stop to see the woodpeckers, dusky and ruffed grouse, recent evidence of grizzly bears, and mountain goats.”

Who would have thought that we would be on the snow-covered “top of the world” above the tree line after watching wolves, bison, and pronghorn run in Lamar Valley? Here on Beartooth Pass we further elevated — literally and figuratively — our observation skills. With binoculars in hand we spotted baby mountain goats lazing in 22 mph wind, gregarious marmots, and Beartooth Mountain in the distance. Even bald eagles and black rosy finches made the list thanks to the experienced eyes of our teammates.

Today’s top takeaways:

1. Give yourself time to observe at least one thing more closely today.

2. Be grateful out loud for at least one thing you normally take for granted.

3. Share something you’re passionate about with at least one other person today.

Learn to be a part of your environment, not apart from it. After all, when we realize just how interconnected we are with our world, we understand just how much there is to lose.