By Penny Power – Business Author & Human-Centred Speaker
This week, brought on by a myriad of emotions that I have been juggling, I made an even more deliberate effort to notice ‘moments’ in my life. I want to bring this Ponder to you this week, and when you read it, you will understand how ‘moments’ are my rock.
When I was about 13, I remember sitting quietly on my mum’s bed, watching her at her dressing table as she put on her make-up for an evening out.
I asked her, “Mummy, are you excited?”
She paused and replied, “No, darling, when you get older you don’t get excited.”
That moment made its way deep into my heart. It planted something powerful in me, a commitment to never let go of the feeling of joy, wonder, or anticipation. It’s where my determination to notice every moment began.
Ever since, I have been determined to get excited, and to notice even the tiniest special moment. I’ve immersed myself in the small rituals of daily life: the first cup of tea, the first coffee, Sunday lunch with my family, the train ride to London to run a BIP100 event, the warm coffee on the train. I notice so many heartbeats around me, people that make my life amazing.
You could call it ‘gratitude’, I always hear this voice inside me, so many times a day say “this is a special moment”.
For me, it’s not the extravagant experiences that make life rich. It’s the routine ones. The everyday magic that brings quiet joy.
Thomas said to me once, “Moments will be on your gravestone.” And he’s right.
As the children came into our lives, and people would often tell me, “It goes so fast,” I made a decision. I wouldn’t just watch them grow, I would feel every moment. Emotionally lock it in. Hold it, savour it. To know that none of it was wasted, I cherished every moment.
I remember Parker (one of Phoebe’s boyfriends) in Friends once saying something like, “Click, it’s in my heart. I don’t need a camera.” That’s how I live. My heart remembers the moment better than my iphone camera!
So as we approach the gentle beauty of Christmas, I invite you to look for the moments of normality. The ones that are so easy to miss:
- A peaceful breath with a hot drink.
- A shared smile over dinner.
- A walk in the crisp air.
- A quiet moment reading a good book.
They may not be flashy or grand, but they are yours, they are what your heart needs. And they are sacred.
Say to yourself, “This is a special moment,” and even better, say it out loud.
Because when you do, you’ll discover your life is already filled with magic, far more than the stress or sadness.
These moments are within your control. They are your doing. And when you honour them, you become a happier person, and imagine that for everyone around you, what a gift!
With love at this Advent time, Penny x
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