The simple things.

November 2016.

There’s a lot to be said about focusing on the present and enjoying the moment.

It can be hard, at least for me. Work, travel, school and home involves constant logisitics planning and attention. It’s a continuous loop of contemplating ‘next steps’. Being purely in the moment can be bloody hard.

After a frantic working week involving travel I returned home to Newcastle and my gorgeous girl. The boys were camping so we were flying solo. Saturday loomed large with social commitments: a gathering of Mothers Group, a pool party, a drive to Civic Park to see the visiting Cadbury Joy truck and babysitting a friend’s daughter amongst others.

I am easily overwhelmed when there’s lots on, but as the day wore on I realised how much I was just enjoying it all, especially watching my girl enjoy herself too. Late in the afternoon I found simple pleasure in the cooling north-easterly and the lengthening shadows of the trees and buildings whilst watching two girls run the perimeter of a park fountain. We had nowhere to be and nothing to do except relax. Shoeless, the girls wiggled their toes in the water, giggling as their hair whipped their faces. We ran into friends from ballet, school and life. I was in a beautiful place with a sunset breeze surrounded by people enjoying daylight-saving hours and a Summery vibe. It was a perfect moment.

You might argue that it’s impossible to lose yourself in the moment and take photographs too. I guess it depends on whether you love taking photos or not. I do, and so I was most definitely in my happy place.

Now it’s Sunday. This morning we strolled through a jungle of bromeliads and ferns to visit the local Fairy Garden with my niece. Tonight I’ve discovered a Crowded House concert televised live from the Sydney Opera House. I’m sitting with my headphones on, listening to songs from my youth and feeling completely soothed by the Finn brother’s harmonies.

I hope you spent some time enjoying being in the moment this weekend too.