It’s raining in Antrim as I write this. I could think about the washing I can’t put on the line, or getting soaked the next time I step outside.
Or I can watch a raindrop.
There’s one making its way down the window, gathering speed as it collects other tiny droplets along the way.
Just for a moment, I stop.
When did you last really notice something?
Our nervous systems can become overwhelmed when life is non-stop. We end up rushing, reacting, and bracing ourselves for whatever is coming next. Sometimes, the simplest shift is to notice what is actually around us.
Not as another task. Just a moment. A beat. A breath.
Beauty doesn’t have to be a sunset or something picture-perfect. I’ve got a huge spider living in my house right now. I love spiders, which I know might horrify some of you! But when I notice it, I pause. It pauses. For that tiny beat, I’m here, rather than rushing on to the next thing.
I might notice a big Luna stretch, a fallen leaf, the latest and potential last rose of the season, or the berries on my holly bush. For the first time ever, it has produced berries this year, and I’m watching their colour change as they slowly turn red.
None of these things fixes anything. But each one gives me a little space.
So, instead of giving you another challenge, here is my Quiet Harvest invitation.
Over the next few days, simply notice what you notice.
Photograph it if you feel like it, but the photograph isn’t the point. The noticing is.
If something gives you that little beat of space, I’d love you to share it with me. Send me a photograph, drop me a message, or tell me what you noticed.
If you’re reading this and thinking, “That sounds lovely, but my system never seems to switch off,” that’s different. Sometimes, we need more than a raindrop.
If you would like a calm space to talk about where you are right now, you can book a Calm Conversation with me. There is no pressure and no expectation.
For today, though, just notice.
You might be surprised by how much beauty was already there.