Life has a way of becoming very full. Work, family, responsibilities, endless to-do lists and the general business of keeping everything moving. Somewhere between the school drop-offs, work deadlines, household admin and trying to remember what day it is, it's easy to get caught up in the doing and forget to enjoy the little things.
Mid-life seems to bring its own particular kind of busyness. There are so many competing priorities, people to look after, decisions to make and things demanding our attention. Add to that a world that can often feel complicated, confronting and overwhelming, and it's not always easy to find a moment to stop and appreciate what's around us.
But I think it's important that we do.
Making room for a little beauty
I've always believed that finding beauty in everyday life doesn't have to involve anything extraordinary. It can be something as simple as the light coming through a window, a beautiful colour combination, flowers in the garden or something unexpected that makes you smile.
These little moments might seem insignificant, but they can change the way we feel. They remind us that even when life is busy, there are still wonderful things happening around us.
I think we sometimes put too much pressure on ourselves to find happiness in the big things. The holidays, the special occasions, the big achievements or the moments when everything finally falls into place.
But what about all the ordinary days in between?
There's something lovely about making those days a little brighter, too.
Why colour matters
For me, colour has always been a wonderful source of inspiration and happiness.
It's expressive, unexpected and full of possibility. A particular shade of blue, a vibrant splash of orange or an interesting combination of colours can completely change how something feels.
This is a big part of why I love creating art. It's an opportunity to step away from the noise of everyday life and spend time making something purely for the joy of it.
Painting allows me to experiment, play with colour, try new techniques and see where the creative process takes me. Sometimes the result is planned, sometimes it's completely unexpected. And sometimes the most interesting things happen when I let go of trying to control every little detail.
There's a certain freedom in that.
Art as a little escape
I have a fairly busy professional life, and much of my work involves thinking about issues, navigating challenges and dealing with the complexities of the world around us.
I enjoy what I do, but I also know how easy it is to become consumed by the serious stuff.
Art gives me something different. It's a chance to focus on colour, creativity and beauty rather than the things that need fixing or worrying about. It doesn't make the challenges disappear, but it offers a welcome change of perspective.
And I think that's something we could all use a little more of.
You don't need to be an artist to experience this, either. Surrounding yourself with things you love, choosing colours that make you happy or finding a small creative outlet can all bring a little more joy into your day.
Sometimes it's as simple as hanging a painting that makes you smile every time you walk past it.
It's the little things
I'm not suggesting that a colourful painting or a beautiful bunch of flowers will solve all of life's problems. If only it were that easy!
But I do think there's real value in making room for things that bring us joy, especially when life feels particularly full.
We spend so much of our time looking after responsibilities, meeting expectations and getting through the next thing. It's worth remembering to make space for ourselves, too.
To notice the colours around us. To appreciate something beautiful. To do something simply because we enjoy it.
For me, that's what art is about. Creating little moments of brightness and bringing more colour into a world that can sometimes feel a little too serious.
Because life isn't always easy, and it certainly isn't always organised or predictable. But there is beauty to be found in it, even on the busiest of days.
And if a little colour can make those days feel brighter, I'm all for it.
And I think we could all use a little more of it.