Breathe Magazine

There’s magic to be found in looking with fresh eyes at everyday places, objects and even ideas. Spring, with its promise of new beginnings, might be the perfect time for it, and perhaps doubly so when the world outside feels so unpredictable. Being more present, noticing details that have become invisible through routine, encourages you to appreciate fully
what you have around you. Simple rituals, rhythms and connections
can act as anchors, reducing stress and coaxing feelings of calm, control and resilience.
Finding a fresh angle can be fun, too. It can make a regular experience feel novel and exciting. Hurriedly walking along a familiar route, for instance, can be elevated by choosing to engage a single sense in turn. Shapes and sounds emerge; the trill of a bird, the curve of an archway. A favourite song can feel entirely different when you focus on one instrument only – maybe the drums aren’t as fast as you’d thought? A visit to a gallery becomes
a mindful escape when you slow enough to stand in front of just two or three artworks and really see them.
It’s your choice if you want to move from drifting on autopilot to experiencing each moment afresh. All it takes is a change of perspective. As spring unfolds, your local corner of the world can feel like new country. A couple of steps off the trail on a rural hike might reveal a carpet of wild garlic. A neglected roadside verge could be littered with blossom, or abuzz with bees and butterflies. Each day that passes brings the chance to observe the rolling wonders of life. All as if you’ve never seen them before.