As I drove into work yesterday, there were three individual moments that made me smile.
Firstly, a sheepdog playing in the park with its owner, chasing and waiting to pick up the ball and having enormous fun.
Secondly, a white-haired retriever sitting at the crossing looking at its owner, who quietly slipped it a treat from her pocket (dogs know which is the treat pocket!).
And thirdly, a toddler walking along proudly and happily clutching the biggest leaves she presumably picked up from the copper carpet under her feet. As I looked her mum glanced my way and we shared a smile at her toddler’s delight.
Today, it was winter jasmine tumbling over a wall, Christmas lights starting to appear in the park and the wintry sun fighting its way through the clouds to highlight the trees’ bare branches.
Simple things; simple moments that made me smile.
As we move into Autumn and feel the chill of winter coming, it can be easy to hanker after warm temperatures and miss the joys that the colder, darker months bring (as a sun-lover I’m talking to myself here!). And yet if we look, each and every day will have something to make us smile.
Being mindful is the simple act of being aware. Dictionary definitions suggest it’s:
“The quality or state of being conscious or aware of something” or “focusing one’s awareness on the present moment.”
It can make us smile; it can lighten a day; it can bring a moment of calm in a time where it may feel there is much to be anxious about. It can bring joy for the gift of life.
Enjoy your day today – and look out for the simple things that make you smile.
