While I was out shopping this week, I came across a small potted plant that looked like it needed adopting.
It was a primula, which I found out later is part of a fairly large family of plants that are grown for their ornamental flowers.
That was certainly the reason this one caught my eye; it had nice cluster of dark blue flowers with a bright yellow dot in the center haloed by green leaves. The $1.50 price tag certainly wasn't going to put my finances back, so I decided to take it home.
Given the persistent grey sky that we have been putting up with these past few weeks, it was nice have a bit of life and colour in the house.
Unfortunately, this year's winter hasn't had much charm, with intermittent rain followed by cold, followed by rain.
Likewise all of the continued conflicts that have been going on between politicians at all levels of government without any real resolve has been a weary spectacle to behold.
It's times like these that I like to pause and just take a moment to find reminders like the little primula plant that sometimes we need to just put the world on pause and look at it.
It's tough in the winter to do that because most people are indoors hibernating and there is not much to look at in the way of fresh scenery.
However, it's good to get out anyway, especially when we do get a rare sunny day, and find others outside, too.
People still give a nod of hello as they pass by and you get to see views unobstructed by leaves if you head over to the different views of the Don Valley and its tributaries.
It's good to clear the head of the cobwebs that get accumulated over the winter with some fresh air, and it is still nice to hear the flowing of water in the creeks and rivers that surround us.
There are still a number of winter birds about, not to mention our hearty squirrels. If you are lucky, you can catch sight of other animals as well.
It's easy to get caught up in the hustle and bustle of life in the city, particularly if you are engaged in your work life or community issues.
Certainly if you follow the news you can come to believe that only the worst is happening and things are not going to get any better.
However, the truth is that for all of the human created problems we have, life itself has a great deal of serenity and peace that you can enjoy simply by placing yourself within it.
We are lucky to have many quiet places within the city in our parks and even on our streets where you can find a moment to reflect on the wonder of it all - if you simply choose to see it.
Take a moment to put your own life on pause and see that all is not wrong with the world if you take a moment to notice it.