I have a small garden with unusually high hedges and a wall on one side.

You might think it would feel a bit cramped. But it doesn’t at all.

Because every day, and most nights, my little garden encourages me to look up.

What’s going on with the great beech tree next door?

Are there any kites (of the bird variety) flying overhead?

Where is the moon?

What shall I write about in my newsletter today?

Yesterday, while walking the dog, my habit for looking up at trees was rewarded with the sight of two nuthatches and then, quite astonishingly, I was treated to a good 30 seconds of watching a barn owl fly through the woods.

It’s all a great mystery… Look up at the sky and you’ll see how everything changes.

ANTOINE DE SAINT-EXUPERY

This got me thinking about looking up and how in today’s world we are so often encouraged to look down at our screens instead.

It turns out that looking up isn’t just a ‘nice idea’, but it activates parts of our brain such as abstract thinking, openness and curiosity, which make us more empathetic and improves our problem solving skills. It even improves our attention span. When I was at school, being labeled a ‘daydreamer’ was not a compliment, and yet most breakthrough ideas come in those ‘aha’ moments when we allow our minds to roam free.

What are train journeys for, if not for some quality time spent staring out of the window?

Looking up often rewards us with moments of awe, which is also a tonic for the mind, body and soul. In those moments we feel connected, tuned in, humble and inspired. We take a deep, cleansing breath and our mind literally expands.

Look up and we see what’s possible.