Somewhere in the blur of everyday life, we can miss the most obvious things staring us in the face.

On a beautiful summer afternoon recently, I spent time at the Stupas near Marlow, less than 10 miles from my home.

I’d like to say I’d discovered them, but a friend had shared some photos of his visit there and I couldn’t believe, having lived most of my life in the area, that I hadn’t heard of them.

I've travelled the world numerous times and want to again, however, sometimes we are looking too far ahead to see what is right in front of us.

These 10 different Tibetan-style stupas built by local residents over 40 years ago, are hidden away along a serene path through woodland. Such a peaceful atmosphere (other than the hum of the M40 in the background, it was perfect).

The lesson? Sometimes, what you’re looking for isn’t out there in the distance; it’s right beside you, waiting to be noticed.

Here’s what I learned:

✅ Pay attention to what’s right in front of you.

✅ Don’t assume that others will always catch what you miss

✅ Sometimes the most important things are closer than you think

✅ Don’t be afraid to adjust your focus

✅ Learn to appreciate the details around you

✅ Not everything needs to be a big discovery—small moments matter too

✅ Embrace your surroundings, even the parts you overlook

✅ Make sure you’re truly seeing and hearing what’s near

Is there something right in front of you that you’ve been overlooking?

Take a closer look, you might be surprised by what you find.

NB: there is a very sad story about the late residents who built the stupas. The late husband and wife, Michael and Tina Choules, were devout buddhists - the latter being brutally murdered in 2016.