Lately, the world feels like it’s moving too fast and on fire. The headlines blur together, loud and heavy, and everything seems to demand urgency. It’s hard not to feel like we’re supposed to be doing more—fixing, knowing, responding, coping.
But I’ve been thinking about how we find peace, not by ignoring what’s happening, but by noticing the small, steady things that help us stay grounded.
This morning, on my walk from the parking lot to work, I found a magpie feather. It was just there on the sidewalk, blue-black with a white spot, shimmering in the morning light. A tiny glint of magic on an otherwise ordinary day. I tucked it in my pocket like a little secret, and for a moment, the noise in my brain quieted down.
That kind of moment, so simple, but grounding, keeps finding me.
A work colleague’s mom started too many tomato plants, and she brought me two to add to my little container garden, leafy and hopeful and full of unknown potential. (She didn’t know what variety they were, so I also get a surprise as they grow!)
Yesterday, the sweet pea seeds in my container garden finally sprouted. Little green shoots breaking free from the soil like they knew exactly when to show up.
And the other day, I pulled out a tiny 4-inch watercolour sketchbook and began to draw. Just small shapes and washes of colour. No pressure. No expectations. Just a quiet kind of joy.
These things don’t fix the world. But they fix something in me—or at least, they remind me of who I am underneath all the worry.
I’m learning that noticing magic isn’t a distraction. It’s a way to stay in it—to keep showing up with an open heart.
So if the world feels heavy for you, too, maybe look for a feather. Or plant something. Or pick up a paintbrush for a few minutes. Not to escape, but to remember your softness. Your steadiness. Your spark.
Look for the little things.
The things that spark your heart.
The things that are worth fighting for.
~Kathleen
Possessed by goats, fed by sparks