I sat on a bench outside my apartment feeling the warm sun on my skin. I was writing a press release for a client. The air was filled with the sweet smell of flowers and the sounds of birds singing.

Then, my neighbor Maryam came and sat with me. For some unknown reason I was curious to know what type of music she listens to. I handed her my phone, opened my Spotify app and asked her to play a song. Her eyes scanned the screen and a smile crept onto her face as she selected a piece by Mozart. The music was beautiful, and I was surprised by her good taste.

"Wow, Maryam, you have a great taste in music," I said.

She smiled and said, "I love classical music. It makes me feel good."

We sat quietly, enjoying the music. The sun kept rising, and everything felt peaceful.

I thanked Maryam and said, "You have a good ear for music."

She smiled and said, "Maybe next time, we can listen to classical music together."

I agreed, and we looked forward to our next sunrise music session.

The memory of that morning has stayed with me. A reminder to slow down, appreciate the world around me and find beauty in the everyday moments that make life worth living.

Happy New Year,

With love from .ros and the ingenious peeps at McPetros Creative Company.