It is so easy to get lost in the hum-drum of life. To stick to your routines and not take a moment to pay attention. To be there in the moment and just see what is around you. So often we miss the detail because we think we know what to expect. Apparently that expectation stops us from seeing every situation as if it was somewhere new. I am currently preparing to go back to work and I am already worrying about the big change that is about to come. I love my job. And yet there is still anxiety as I prepare to leave baby and head back to the routine of work….

Therefore this task could not have been better timed to allow me to see the beauty I have had the opportunity to see; and forgot to look at. Day one involved a family gathering.I had invited the family round for a traditional Caribbean Sunday dinner with all of our favourite food.It was a mammoth task but it was such a lovely opportunity for us all to spend time together and enjoy each other’s company.Some would call me mad to have 20 for dinner just before I return to work but I am a social being and my family means so much. So we made it happen. We have a number of young children in our family and I decided to have an Easter Egg Hunt.To keep them entertained we had an Easter Egg basket competition.The children had to make their own basket to collect their eggs and they had to ask their parents/ grandparents/ aunts/ uncles/ siblings to help them.There was a moment that I just stood there and watched in the midst of the madness.Right there I saw the beauty in their relationships.Seeing everyone working together, sharing ideas, laughing at their attempts, being completely at ease with one another based on love. There was a great deal of 'healthy' competition. It was spell- binding and at that very moment I was so glad to be there. Gratitude.

After that mammoth task I was shattered!It took me a couple of days to recover.One evening I sat in my bedroom with baby in arms and took a moment to hide from everyone else (aka take a moment). In that moment I looked out of the window and saw this:

What a sight it was.I suddenly realised that every evening there is a scene like this right outside of my bedroom window and I hardly ever take the opportunity to look.Looking at the sunset somehow allows me to feel so calm and serene and I had not made the most of this.I felt that right there I learnt the importance of this task.The need to see the beauty.The need to make your brain think differently to keep it healthy and grateful. A moment to be.

There were other things I noticed when I stopped for five minutes but the work had been done.The sunset reminded me that I am grateful to be here and that seeing the beauty helps my peace of mind, outlook and appreciation.