Sometimes you’re so busy living that you forget to live. But once in a while, you’ll experience what I like to call moments of wonder.

These are short but impactful experiences that make you laugh or smile when you least expect it.

The nature of my work takes me to many strange and interesting places, which has given me plenty of chances to simply live in the moment.

Recently, Tracy and I were in London. Now, I expect this is common knowledge, but I had no idea that St James’s Park is home to pelicans. At first we mistook them for swans, but seeing a creature I’d only ever encountered in cartoons, or that one Roald Dahl book, was amazing. They’re beautiful birds.

In Dundee, I stumbled upon statues of Lemmings, video game characters from my childhood. The game, designed by DMA Design and released in 1991, was coded nearby. Rockstar, creators of Grand Theft Auto, now have local offices there too. Set in what felt like a near-tropical garden, it was a completely unexpected find.

On the riverside wall in Bristol, I spotted a crocodile tucked into a recess. While in Paris, we and watched the Eiffel Tower glitter and sparkle at night.

A million more moments spring to mind, but this post is more than a reflection. It’s a request. Stop every once in a while. Look, really look, at where you find yourself and be open to experiencing moments of wonder.

I’d genuinely love to hear about your moments in the comments.