A few days ago we were so excited to see the return of the lesser spotted woodpecker – feeding in our garden. It had visited us a few months ago – and was quite a rare sight – amongst the finches – tits – sparrows etc.
Watching the birds through the windows – always brings us so much joy and pleasure.
As someone once said – “To be filled with joy by a birds beautiful song – is to be rooted firmly in the simple life – able to embrace the gifts that are there for each of us”.
And to me – they truly are gifts – that I receive each day.
I was talking with a friend recently – about our shared pleasure – of watching the birds in our gardens – and for her – this is a fairly new experience in her life. She told me that – for most of her life – she had been too busy to even notice birds – but now derives so much pleasure from them.
That got me thinking – about how often in life I have maybe missed things – simply because I have been too busy to notice.
Life does have a way of almost taking over at times. I know that there have been times in my life when I have been so busy and consumed with the things I have been involved in – that I have failed to notice that other things were calling for my attention.
How true I find these words – “The world is often too loud to notice – and perhaps too busy to care – about what is quietly blossoming beside the noise”
Like all things in life though – I accept that I cannot go back and change the way I handled my life.
But what I can do – is to seek to learn from the past. To take more time – to notice – to quieten the noise – and hear and see more of life. around me.
These wise words put it so well – “Live slowly enough to notice what truly matters”.
Because of course – it’s not just the things around me – nature and birds etc – that I can easily miss.
I can miss out on the people around me – fail to really see them – to appreciate them in my life.
I came across this Japanese word – ‘Yutori’ – which apparently means – “intentionally slowing down to simply be – breathe – listen and appreciate the beauty of nature and life. Consciously creating space to relax – reflect and integrate – rather than being constantly busy or rushed”.
I like that – and it really sums up my thoughts – triggered by noticing the wonderful birds in my garden – and I determine to seek to notice more – take time slower – in order to appreciate so much life – that happens around me.
Blessings – Lois
