It was a bit chilly as I walked to work this morning. The sun was in the process of rising, and it was absolutely stunning. I would have taken a photo but my hands were full with it being the first day back!

So… it was rather chilly. It reminded me of the mornings in the caravan, when you’d put your leg out from the duvet and quickly huddle back up again. But then as soon as the curtains were open the sun came streaming in. It was lighter and almost immediately it was warmer.

The sun is quite phenomenal, it brings us light, it brings us warmth, it brings us life.

Over the last few days I’ve had some real surprise sunny moments, whether that be a 84 minute phone call with E, unexpected lunch with friends, or walking in to a room and seeing some people’s faces that literally made my heart leap. Don’t get me wrong I’m not saying I was in a dark place, but it was like those sudden bursts of energy you get through a cloud. Little forces of energy that help you along the way.

Sometimes though, we have to make the effort to find the sun. That may be opening the curtains, or going on holiday where you know it will be sunny. I have a number of things that I know bring me energy WHEN I do them, emphasis being WHEN – playing the piano, reading, spending quality time with the husband. But I know that I need to be the one who chooses to do them.

I also know that I can sometimes block out the sun, getting caught up in myself, my thoughts, my perceived inadequacies and inevitably hiding myself away. That’s when I need to open the curtains. I might not be able to open them fully straight away but gradually I can let the light in.

I’m not sure I’ll ever be a sun-chaser but I’m going to be trying to recognise the spontaneous sunny moments, and choose to let the sun in when things are a bit dreary.