Whether you live in a big city or out in the country, it can become difficult over time to see the beauty in the places that you see everyday.

If you look closely, you will see a variety of things around you that are breathtaking, and deserve recognition.

I realized this about a week ago while I was walking across town to pick up some paperwork from the Tribune Democrat’s offices downtown.

As I was walking, I started noticing things throughout the city that I didn’t see on a daily basis while I was riding in a school bus or a car.

I had my camera with me, albeit with a limited amount of charge on the one battery that I had with me, and I started taking some pictures.

As I got near the point stadium, and the old stone bridge, I noticed the observation area for the bridge that I had never seen before.

Flowers had been planted, signs erected detailing the history of the bridge, and right up front was a red mailbox with a sign that read “leave a note of hope”. Curious, I opened the lid of the mailbox to see what would be inside, and to my surprise, I found a journal-style notebook and a pen.

Opening the notebook, I started reading notes from people who had visited the deck over the last few years and written in the book.

From an inspiring story of a person who had just moved to Johnstown and was now living happily to the tragic story of someone who had lost a lot and was looking for a place to express her emotions, I got a look inside the minds of different people from the city.