Pause and Breathe

Tiny moments of blessing

Dear friends,

Today, in a short post, I am inviting you to spend just a brief moment of your day changing your focus.

If you only have one minute to spare, join me for a glimpse into this bee’s morning as it steadily goes about its business, buzzing away, visiting one papery-petalled poppy after another — with the background sounds of wind in the trees and a plane overhead, distant bird conversation, and someone starting work in their garden.

And if you have more than that minute, here are a few more thoughts!

Yesterday I was listening to a helpful meditation by Jeff Warren, (I was given a Calm subscription by a kind friend this year ) — it was titled: ‘Simple Good Things’.
There is a very similar focus in his post here on Substack:

Little Good Things

I found this really challenged me to try and keep remembering to find just a tiny good thing to focus on, every now and again.
It might seem particularly hard to seek moments like this when days are non-stop busy or feel difficult, but I’m sure this is when we need them the most. The act of deliberately searching out something beautiful, even for a matter of a few seconds, and then pausing to dwell there, is such a valuable skill to learn. And I will need to practise. Usually my run-away thoughts are hard to interrupt, but I want to develop a habit of stepping away for just a moment every now and again — to really look at colour or form, attune to a particular sound, or even focus on the scent of a flower, a lemon or a tomato!

I wish I could say these were home-grown!

Anything which helps me draw my senses to the here-and-now with gratitude can be my focus. I can try and look out of the window more often to see clouds moving across the sky or shadows on the ground — perhaps if it's pouring I might listen more attentively to the sound of the rain. There is a fragrance I can pause to notice when I brew peppermint or chamomile tea. Instead of watering my lovely maidenhair fern and then walking away quickly to do the next thing, I can take just an extra moment to look at its shape and colour, and how beautiful the leaves are as they curve over and down in a cascade of vibrant green.

I’ll end with a question, for you and for me, in our sometimes-hectic days.

What might be very simple, good sounds, scents, colours, forms, even textures, which we could choose to focus on for moments of pause throughout the day, while taking a couple of deeper breaths?
It's relatively easy on calm days, but it may take a little more determination to pull ourselves away from racing busyness.

Do share anything you have sought out, dwelled on for just a moment, and found to be a blessing.

Lou xx