Day 123: Page 123

I found this lone page on the sidewalk.

Upon further observation, what did I see?! It was page 123!!

Upon even FURTHER observation (zooming in to read the page) I saw it was very strange content - especially to read completely out of context. 

I have no idea what book this is from.

Isn't that just like life? 

We're all reading from our own books. They make sense. 

But when we read a page from someone else's book it can seem foreign, strange, and at times glaringly wrong.

No matter what we read or interpret from the pages of others, we get to write our own stories. 

What does your Page 123 say?

Day 122: Beavers Build Resilience

After my heartbreak from the clean cutting of trees I witnessed the other day, I decided I wanted to enjoy the untouched areas of North Pond while I still can. 

That meant visiting as much as possible - at least the areas of beauty that still brought me the feeling of peace and calm.

At this point, there is roughly half the perimeter to work with. Lucky me, it's the side with the beaver den - which I only just learned the location of.

I had heard rumor of a beaver living in the pond when I first moved to this neighborhood, roughly a year and a half ago. I'd had a few speculative sightings, assuming the identity of the mid-sized creature I saw swimming across the pond that was definitely not a bird. But I never thought I'd see the beaver up close.

Then, one Monday - May 16th to be specific - I saw it! It was hanging out under a tree leaning over the water. In my excitement and desire to gaze upon it for as long as possible, I didn't even chance a picture.

This time, however, was a different story. I GOT MY PROOF!!

 

Do you feel like a nature explorer peering through the trees?! 

 

Look at the texture on that tail!

For the second time sighting the beaver I was again able to point it out to a few other nature lovers.

By the time nature lovers #4 & #5 joined us, the beaver decided to leave.. Our small group of five, however, stayed a while longer. 

It was consoling to hear from fellow North Pond enthusiasts that they, too, shared in my feelings of surprise, shock, and disappointment in how the restoration was unfolding.

We all felt a bit duped by how the project had been presented. Clearly, the message had not been received as it was intended. 

While the shadows of concern and dismay were strong, something else began to poke through the darkness.

Resilience.

The reminder that animals live by their instincts. If they are unable to get what they need in one area, their biology will instinctively move them to a place that they can. Or at least they will set off in search of such a place.

The same is true of us - humans. 

While we may not always use it or be as attuned to it as others, we all have instincts and intuition that can guide us. No matter what the situation or circumstance, we possess the navigation system needed to move us to an area that will provide us what we need.

This doesn't mean it will be easy - or automatic - especially, if we don't have a clear idea of what 'what we need' really is. 

But with intent, time, and effort we'll know ourselves like we know the back of our hands! And navigating to new areas that will provide for us better than our current place and circumstances will become the new 'autopilot'.

Day 121: RIP the North Pond I loved

I went for a walk around North Pond yesterday. 

It was different than normal. More somber. 

The $7 million pond restoration project has started. It will help prevent future pond erosion and overtime will attract an even broader array of birds and animals.

I know it's good for the health of the ecosystem, but I can't help but feel a bit sad about it . . .

On my way to the pond I found a dead Mourning Dove laying on the sidewalk. For some reason it really startled me. I don't think that's quite the right word. But it hit harder than I would have expected. Probably because I used to feed them out my apartment window (that is, until the building told me to stop).

As soon as I saw the dove I got a weird, heavy feeling. Preparing for something worse, it seemed in a way.

Once I reached the pond I was met by another shock. A dead turtle float just under the water's surface.

My heart sank. 

Then I looked across the pond to the other side and was horrified by what I saw. By what these little omens may have been leading up to. 

I saw undeniable proof of the project starting. But nothing about it looked restorative.

In the limited section of work every tree along the shoreline, healthy or not, had been cut down. 

I didn't think my heart could sink any lower. Then something dawned on me. 

I knew I really liked the North Pond, but dare I say I LOVE North Pond?

It seemed a silly question to ask - of course I loved the pond! But to realize the depths of that love was enlightening.

I always knew I loved animals, but now I was VERY concerned. I just saw a dead turtle floating. 

What's going to happen to the rest of them? 

Where will they go? 

What's going to happen to the beaver (that I finally saw up close)???

I continued my way down the path, momentarily distracted from my concern by a squirrel hanging upside down by its feet in order to reach some seed pods in a tree.

This is why I love North Pond.

By the time I reached the other side of the pond my smile from the squirrel was long gone. 

I paused to look forlornly up the shoreline. Missing the leaning trees and majestic secrecy they created for all of the birds and animals that lived there.

This is what it used to look like in the clearing captured in the photo above:

But now all that's left is this:

I was touched by the fake flowers someone left - I can only imagine - as a memorial.

Day 120: 107%

Wow, I don't think I've ever seen sugar listed at over 100% of the recommended daily amount before!!

Why does it have to be so high, though?!

Can't they just cut back like, say, 7%? You know, make it an even 100% of the recommended daily sugar amount?

All the sugar you need in order for your body to function can be obtained through this one bottle.

Wow, it's just like a meal replacer - but it's for the whole day . . . and night . . . and only for one nutrient class . . .

Yep, sounds like a good idea to me!

Day 119: Not Relaxing

 

 

 

Worst. Vacation. Ever.

. . . at least for a mischievous kid . . .

Day 118: Want. Wish. Desire.

Fulfillment starts with the desire to want.

To want a better life for yourself.

To want to know yourself better.

To want to understand what your dreams are and pursue them.

To want to live with ease in a way that feels good.

When we allow ourselves to want, when we allow ourselves to desire, we come closer to understanding who we are. We come closer to true happiness.

To want does not mean to be selfish.
To want is to dream.

As the Cinderella song tells us, "A dream is a wish your heart makes." [Cue Sonia playing this on the piano over and over as fast as she can.]

What are the wants, the wishes, the desires of your heart?

Maybe you're like me and have been ignoring, quieting, and repressing them because you:
   are being realistic
   don't do 'that sort of thing'
   have no experience
   don't know how
   aren't good enough
I could keep this list going for a while . . .

So instead, I'll ask again, what are the desires of your heart? 

Here's a hot tip - if something comes to mind and is immediately followed by why you can't do it or why you don't really want it, it's probably worth paying attention to.

Your wants, your wishes, your desires - when they come from the heart will always lead you where you need to be.

"But what if I have no idea how to reach my dream?
What if it seems so unrealistic or out of reach it feels like a - well, a pipe dream?"

Doesn't matter.

Last time I checked, we can only take one step at a time.

Day 117: In One Ear

 

. . . and out the other?

Maybe. Maybe not.

It's so easy to take in the viewpoint or opinion of others and adopt it for our own. 

Just think back to when we were kids. 

I can recall many times hearing adults talk about things I'd never experienced or wasn't remotely aware of and taking them as fact. Little did I know these unintentionally adopted viewpoints would influence many of my future beliefs, behaviors, and actions. 

As kids, there's not much we can do about this.
As adults, it's a whole different story.

That's why being an adult is so great! Because we get to decide what we believe - no one else can do this for us.

With that said -
how often are we taking time to ensure the information wanting to hang out between our ears is what we actually believe? 

When do we pause to break down new ideas we've heard - to fully understand what they are made up of?

What body cues are we listening to or ignoring?  

[Good rule of thumb: if you feel relaxed, calmed, or lighter by a thought - it's typically a green light to keep it. If you feel restricted, tense, or heavy/weighed down by a thought - it likely does not align with your values and you might want to reassess.]

We do the world - and ourselves - no favors by blindly accepting the viewpoints and opinions of others.

Be Brave.

Be Bold.

Be You - Do You.