I dedicated the month of March to looking for magic. I thought it would help me lean into mindfulness and gratitude—devoting my attention to what is versus what could or should be.

The most magical moment I’ve tuned into so far is the way the light enters the house a few minutes after 7 o’clock each evening. Apart from a couple overcast days, I’ve stopped what I was doing each time I noticed the light flooding in through the window and door.

I took this photo (below) one night last week, and although it hardly captures the magic, it captures the sentiment. During that snapshot in time, I wasn’t focused on the dog gate that keeps 20-year-old Magpie in one room; I was instead enamored by the way the gate’s pattern was replicated above the door.

At the time, I didn’t notice the bottle of enzymes that help my faulty pancreas digest food. Or the foam roller that has become part of our living room décor thanks to my achy back. None of these practical things mattered because I was enraptured in a moment of awe.

Here’s to finding the magic in our everyday lives.