This post was contributed by a community member. The views expressed here are the author's own.

Health & Fitness

What Matters to Us: A Bird's Eye View

Our lives have become so busy we can often lose perspective. Spending time in nature is an age-old remedy worth adding to the schedule.

The birds are talking to me again.  Not in a literal, schizophrenic way, but by demonstrating, in their own fashion, other ways of thinking.  The first time was about 15 years ago while taking a break from hiking (I use this term loosely, as I tend to meander, taking in the details around me) near a lake in the hills of Marin.  As is my custom, I’d ventured to the natural surroundings to make sense of my life.  I’d been playing the reel of my current concerns in my mind complete with all the assumptions and perceived limitations.  As I lay in the warm, brown grass and looked up at the sky I couldn’t help but notice the beautiful circle of “hawks” above me. I found myself wondering what the birds were seeing from their vantage point so high above. The words in my head suddenly shifted direction as I began thinking about perspective and I started seeing the larger story around the details of my worries.  A sense of relief and promise overtook me along with more options and positive interpretation.  It was only later, in recounting the spiritual sense of communing with these wise aviary beings that I was told they were likely turkey buzzards circling above what looked to them like impending lunch, me.   Nevertheless, the message was received and appreciated.

If only that expansive mindset were permanent. The brilliance of meditative moments can so easily fall away in the turmoil of the day. How easy it is to become overwhelmed by the limitations of time, by the lack of control we truly have over our environment.

Today the visitors are more humble but equally impressive, showing up when I need them. Hovering over the new fuchsia plant making its own dramatic show of curious multi-layered blossoms, an impossible hummingbird defying gravity as it stays aloft with its million mile an hour flutters.  Soon afterwards a small brown bird with long thin legs (I’ve already established that I am no expert on the identification of birds) hops across my path, pogo stick-like and without missing a beat pops through the opening of a chain link fence to my left as if there is no fence at all.  The bird has seen the opening and doesn’t slow down or consider the crosswires to be obstacles.  I see the fence, it sees the hole.  For a small bird it is very smart.  These creatures seem to have the ability to think macro as well as micro.  Maybe they learn that from a life spent both on the ground and in the air.

Find out what's happening in Lamorindawith free, real-time updates from Patch.

We’ve removed the ability to reply as we work to make improvements. Learn more here

The views expressed in this post are the author's own. Want to post on Patch?