General News
8 February, 2026
Smiles with Sally: Discovering new experiences
This week Sally Pymer looks at discoveries and how they can impact our daily lives. Enjoy a glimpse into Sally's discovery in her day.
I was looking after my 20-month-old granddaughter while preparing for an online violin lesson. Before the lesson began, I took out the violin and bow.
She watched me with a distant look of curiosity, unsure what was about to happen, but the moment I drew the bow across the strings, something beautiful unfolded.
The look on her face was unexplainable, and it took me completely by surprise.
It was one of the most magical expressions I’ve ever seen.
Her eyes lit up, and the widest grin spread from ear to ear.
In that instant, it was as if we’d both discovered a hidden treasure.
I suddenly realised she had never heard a violin before, and to her, this was pure wonder. That moment stayed with me.
As children, we encounter new discoveries every day, including sounds, colours, textures, and people, and each one sparks excitement and curiosity, but somewhere along the way, as adults, those discoveries become fewer.
Maybe not because there’s less to discover, but because we stop looking for them.
Think about your own life. How often do you drive the same way to work, eat the same meals, or spend time with the same people?
How often do you book holidays to familiar places because they feel safe and predictable?
Why do we do that? Maybe it’s the comfort of routine, or the safety of the familiar.
Maybe it’s decision fatigue with it easier to choose what we already know.
Perhaps it’s fear of disappointment, or of being judged if we try something that doesn’t work out.
Sometimes, it’s simply the quiet voice of past experiences whispering, “Don’t make that mistake again".
But what if we permitted ourselves to explore again and to rediscover that spark of childlike curiosity.
Imagine the feeling of trying something new and being completely delighted by it, like finding the pot of gold at the end of a rainbow.
That moment my granddaughter smiled wasn’t just about the sound of a violin; it was about discovery, connection, and joy.
Science tells us that smiles are contagious and release feel-good hormones like dopamine and serotonin.
They soften our stress, lift our mood, and even help us live longer, and when your smile is sparked by wonder by trying something new it carries an energy that others can feel too.
So, this fortnight, I invite you to do something different. It doesn’t have to be big.
Walk a new path. Try a new recipe. Sit beneath a tree you’ve never noticed before.
Start a conversation with someone outside your usual circle.
There’s comfort in familiarity, but there’s magic in curiosity. Sometimes, all it takes to rediscover joy is one small step sideways.