Linda Hopkins Coaching

The Guardian article by Anna Deacon on the ‘joy of small things: daily walks with my camera’ really resonates with me. It’s well worth a read. In it she shares an enthusiasm for taking the opportunity to have time-out in nature, for a walk, and to take photos along the way; allowing yourself to notice the small things and in doing so to slow down.

Winter holds such wonder and by going more slowly, taking time to savour what I see, I find much to be grateful for. The intricate patterns of bark, the low sun giving us an almost all day golden hour, the sparkling icy pavements. Taking time to stop and absorb our surroundings is a luxury we don’t normally have, but if ever there were a time, it is now. Life is so busy that taking this time to walk sometimes feels like an indulgence, but for me it is a lifeline.

I agree, going out with a camera in hand, spotting the small things around you, and taking a photo is a great way to unwind, to give yourself some quality time, to relax and to connect. I have often done this; as an exercise on a retreat day or a day off, taking myself off for a day out with camera in hand and noticing and taking photos of what’s around and how the light falls. It’s also been a way of praying, and being open to God and the wonder of creation around me, a type of contemplation. I share Deacon’s enthusiasm for the act of walking with your camera. Yet while I too have appreciated this time connecting with nature I’ve also found this same act of paying attention to the small things can be done with just as much wonder in town or city, even with little in the way of trees and plants around, although it is amazing what you do find in the way of natural life in the city when you go out with the intention of taking notice. There is beauty to be found in street and built up area too; in people, patterns, and all manner of things.

So I encourage you to go out, take a phone, a camera, or just use your eyes. But look up, look down, stop, go slowly, watch the light play on the water, see how the sun haloes around a tree. Take your time and savour this: think of it as a way to calm and soothe your soul.