Standing Still

Something that Anna wrote about yesterday ('Tuning in, Making Connections') really struck a chord. She is limited in her ability to go out and about freely as I can,, and she turned this into the most amazing opportunity to increase her knowledge and appreciation of birds in her garden, training herself to capture the most extraordinarily beautiful images of them.

On my near daily trip into Roundhay Park, except for my moment with the kingfisher in April, I am yet to catch a good glimpse of any birds. I was beginning to doubt if there were any. As I stomped through the ancient Ram Wood to meet a friend at the Mansion, my mind was buzzing with thoughts, reflections and things I must remember to do when I got home.

My friend and I powered our way around the park, enjoying the deep conversation and energetic activity. After I said goodbye to her, I realised I couldn't even remember the route we'd walked, so deep in conversation were we. As I walked back through the woods, I enjoyed the silence in contrast to our bubbly voices entertaining and probing each other's thoughts on our catch up. Then I remembered Anna's comment to me - you have to stay still to find the birds. I hadn't been still the whole time I'd entered the park. My thoughts hadn't even stayed still the whole time. So I looked around. I walked off the path and looked up. I stopped. I silenced my thoughts, and stayed still.

I couldn't believe what I suddenly saw and heard all around me. I really hadn't heard the birdsong until that moment. I really hadn't seen these little creatures flying from branch to branch. I gazed up and around, enjoying the moment, being fully present, and realizing that maybe I was beginning to learn how to tune in.