The desire to be seen and appreciated by others runs through us all in one way or another. If you can’t be the loudest one in the room you worry you won’t be heard at all. Bigger, bolder, brighter, that’s often what we feel this world calls for in order to stand out, and sometimes that is certainly true.

Then we come across a photo such as this, with a natural elegance that pulls us inward for a lasting look. It doesn’t boast an over the top color palette, bizarre stunt, or special gimmick to beg for our attention and amusement. There is nothing outwardly obvious to explain why we find ourselves passing our eyes over it time and again, and still that’s exactly what we do.

The magic here lies in the purposeful simplicity of it all. When we take away the distractions and noise that fill so many parts of our world we are given the opportunity to enjoy the clean lines of a well tailored coat, a hat that brings a splash of blue, and the delicate turn of an outstretched ankle. The intentional choice not to get caught up in the race to out-do everything around makes something ordinary become extraordinary.

Sometimes when we feel we have done all we can to stand out from the pack, the best thing we can do is get back to basics. Focusing on the building blocks of our success, and the pieces of ourselves that form who we really are, gives us everything we need to catch people’s attention. When we quit stressing about trying out the latest thing, or rising above the person next to us in line, everything about our life experience becomes more authentic and clear for those around us to appreciate.

There are plenty of great opportunities for bold displays and wondrous feats. Embrace them. However, true genius might mean knowing when sweet and simple is quite enough to leave us with something to marvel at.