Ordinary

I couldn’t help but smile. A beautiful robin…so charming and delightful. And I realized he was simply being his ordinary self, splashing around at the edge of a pond.

But in his ordinary, he affected me. My mood lifted, my spirits rose, and my human concerns dissolved.

And I had a thought. Maybe in our ordinary, we also make a difference. A smile, a wave, a kind word, a simple courtesy…perhaps more impactful than we know.

As I continued wandering, I realized that this little bird will never know how he contributed to me that morning. I won’t soon forget him.

How grateful I am…

(Link to New Photos: wandernature.com/new-photos)

Life's Surprises

Not long ago, I spotted a green heron standing at the edge of a stream. He was partially hidden in the shadows, so a clear photograph was unlikely. I stood for a while, wishing and hoping he would move into the light. He didn’t.

I finally gave up and turned away. As I turned, I noticed this beautiful flicker peering into a tree cavity searching for insects. What a lovely surprise.

And I had a wondering. Have I been missing some of life’s surprises? Maybe I’ve been too focused on wishing and hoping and trying to make things happen.

I realize that my most memorable experiences were the unexpected ones, more wonderful than anything I could have wished or hoped for.

Maybe it’s time to loosen my grip on life and let the universe surprise me.

Something to ponder…inspired by a lovely flicker.

(Link to New Photos: wandernature.com/new-photos)

Inner Landscape

I watched him for a while…a beautiful egret resting on a branch.

His feathers blowing in the breeze, he ongoingly adjusted his body to maintain his equilibrium.

And I had a thought. In his pursuit of balance, the egret didn’t expend energy trying to change the tree. He changed himself.

Wise beings have suggested that it’s by changing our inner landscape that our outer experience is altered. It’s our thoughts, beliefs, and patterns that determine our experience.

Perhaps the egret’s presence was a reminder to ongoingly unearth and release what no longer serves us.

A worthy undertaking…inspired by a lovely bird.

(Link to New Photos: wandernature.com/new-photos)