Hello, HaQ readers! Welcome to another lovely Sunday. I woke up to a quiet house this morning and by the time I had made my coffee, the sun was just starting to lift. The sunrise lit the whole eastern horizon in pink and purple and then orange and yellow. It was gorgeous. What a gift!

It’s lovely to sit and sip and watch a beautiful sunrise lift into the morning. It’s a moment of peace, appreciated for being just what it is. A few birds popped in and out of the bird feeder. A doe wandered through the backyard. My cat came for a bit of cuddling. And I watched the sun rise. I was a being, in the moment.

And that’s why I don’t have a picture of that particular sunrise. Even though the photographer in me felt a little tug. For once I let go of the busy thoughts. I allowed myself to be in the moment, rather than trying to record the moment. I don’t need an image to remember what it felt like, and if I had rushed around to get the image, I would have only an echo of that feeling. I am happy with the choice, and those few minutes will be a positive little cushion to the day.

The holidays can be a season of bustle, but there are many opportunities to pause, for just a minute, to breathe. What moment of grace will you choose to be in today? What present moment, what gift of time will you give yourself to simply savor for what is? Perhaps it’s the touch of a loved one, perhaps the perfume of your favorite cup of tea. Perhaps a moment of joy you witness between two strangers.

Imagine all the lovely pauses out there, just waiting to be acknowledged! I hope there is one for you today.

Stay tuned for more on the Here’s a Quarter blog next week! As always, your thoughts and comments are always welcome – they are moderated (I know – adulting again), so they may take a little while to appear, but I read them all and appreciate that you were here. Thank you!