Hopefully we all have at least one friend who we value and knows values us. The kind of friend that you know you can rely on.

I am blessed to have friends like these, and this week, I had reason to value them even more.

I was out of town when I heard my Dad had a mini-scare which led to an overnight stay courtesy of the NHS.

The following morning he was given the all clear, and some advice on avoiding a return visit.

Even knowing that things turned out ok, I wanted to be home with my family, especially my Mum.

It brought tears to my eyes, when a friend called and said: “I’ve just been speaking to your Mum”. She had also offered to cook food, take her shopping, basically be there.

A friend I was due to go away with for the weekend, pre-empted my thoughts about whether to cancel, by telling me to do whatever I felt in my heart, and then checking with the hotel what would happen if we decided not to go. – The hotel let us off the cancellation charge.

This stuff totally warmed my heart, and brought a sense of ease to my unease.

I got home 2 days letter – my Mum tried to tell me off for shortening my trip, then said she was glad I was here

The idea for a run had crossed my mind last night, but no fixed plan had been made, and as I already was going to have an early start, I didn’t really think a run would be able to factor into my morning.  So I received my early rising as a gift.

‘Living in the Now’ – the title for this post. Last night I found I had saved this as a post title on the 11th May. Obviously I had had some inspiration at the time, but I couldn’t muster any recollection of what that was. – A moment now lost.

As a writer or indeed artist of any creative description, there is a real validity to living in the now. Writing down those thoughts when they come, recording those song lyrics, sketching out that drawing, taking that photo, pitching your idea to that chief exec…

Living in the Now can also be essential in capturing those moments of quality time with a loved one or a friend. I am all for planning. I am also for making the most of phoning a friend as you’ve finished early, are in the neighbourhood or they just ‘ran across your mind’. I’m sure you can all identify a time when you have capitalised on a moment like this, and the enjoyment that has come.

Look out for those moments today!