I met B on a morning walk by the estuary. Winter still hung in the air and the birds were fliting with their chirps celebrating the approaching spring. B with her cap, the nature inspired jacket, the big binoculars and the serious camera suspended on her side was an image of a nature photographer. My dogs with their wagging tails and instinctive curiosity facilitated a conversation between us.
B shared with me some of the seeds that she held in her palm for the birds. And she shared stories. My favorite one was of the little chickadee who confidently flies onto B’s fingers to pick up the seeds and scatter them around for birds that were hesitant to collect them directly from B’s hand. This little chickadee first fed her family and friends and then feasted at the last few left on the palm.
That morning B gave ‘connection’ a new meaning! For years B had gone for walks with her dear dog. When her loving four legged partner passed away….B’s constant companion became her camera. With these lenses, she can zoom into life anywhere, connect with it and capture its moments……she is never alone.
For B, starting her morning with quiet moments outside under the expanse of the sky, surrounded by life in different forms and tuning in has become a tradition. She believes that it is in our nature to seek peace and strength at the start of the day in the right environment.
Somedays on my walk, I pass B and find her immersed in being present to everything around her. We smile and connect but rarely talk as I appreciate her satisfaction in quietly listening to the stirrings of the day.
I wish you a quiet morning in your natural haven.
Why this substack page?
I am collecting people’s perspectives on what are our strengths, what have we been doing right….practices that empower us, our families, communities and this planet that we call home. Often, these are simple acts with power to change the moment, the day or our environment and in doing so shape our today and tomorrows. Some of these are traditions continued for generations and have impacted our lives in such subtle ways that we have taken them for granted and forgotten to acknowledge their importance. Time to positively shine the spotlight on these strengths and support their growth.
If there is a tradition you believe should be continued, created or grown, please deposit it with us in a video, a poem, an anecdote, a recipe or a prose. We are creating a Bank of Traditions.
JM
(A Fish Thirsty At Sea)
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