Sometimes it's right in front you
TL;DR
It's so easy to get lost in our never-ending-to-do-lists.
So much, in fact, that we might miss something that could potentially become meaningful.
I wouldn't call myself a bird watcher. I notice them.
I live in the suburbs now so I enjoy listening to birds chirping as I sit on my porch or go on a walk in my neighborhood.
I definitely admire the random cardinal or bluebird I see on the branch here and there.
But that's really the extent of the attention I pay to birds.
And that's been A-OKAY with me.
Until last week when my friend Lauren and her dog came to visit us.
The second day she was here she came in from walking her dog and asked if I wanted to know what birds are in my backyard. She has a bird app.
I said "sure" without really taking in her question. One of those casual sures that I don't even know I'm saying.
I was making dinner for the girls, while simultaneously trying to clean up the kitchen to avoid a longer clean up later, while also texting with my husband about the ant problem by the sink, and also trying to reschedule a work meeting because a client needed an emergency coaching session the next day.
All of this by the way is only happening in my head while I'm trying to be a chill mom who has it all under control. (ps. nothing was really under control).
And I'd be lying if I told you I wasn't envious of my friend who has time to think about birds and get curious about which ones are out there in our yard.
I'd much rather do that than clean the kitchen or fill out endless camp forms for my girls.
But would I?
The truth is I hadn't slowed down long enough to honestly even sit with that question.
At dinner that night I asked Lauren to tell me more about the bird app. "It recognizes the sound of the bird and then tells you what it is."
"Oh, that's fun!" I said. That, again, probably being the extent of my interest in birds.
But then, as I was sitting out on my porch meditating the next day, I realized that the reason I love sitting out there more than inside is actually because of the chirping birds and sounds of nature. I started to get more curious, and here is my stream of consciousness that followed:
Why don't I care to know more about these birds? There was this whole incident where we saved a bird in our front yard months ago, made a little nest for it and everything, and I never even thought to wonder what kind of bird it was. Birds were birds, basically. Just because I don't deem myself a "bird person" doesn't mean I might not learn some really cool things about the birds inhabiting our area. And do I have to become a "bird person" in order to get the app? Can I try it out and see if I'm actually interested in learning more about these birds, or is it just easier to write it off as "not my thing." What might I learn about if I take the time to check out this bird app myself?
It seems every summer I get a little nudge from the universe telling me the same message:
"Slow down long enough to notice and enjoy your surroundings, Betsy."
Back in 2017, I shared one of my favorite stories about discovering the infamous outdoor bookstore, The Book Barn, right in the town we were spending every summer. Right under my nose, was this jem of a bookstore that now I frequent on the regular every summer. It's become one of my most treasured summer activities with my girls.
And it seems that this time the message has come in the form of a dear friend — not coincidentally, she also happens to be the one encouraging me to look up at the sky more in my day to day.
It's so easy to get lost in our never-ending-to-do-lists. So much, in fact, that we might miss something that could potentially become meaningful.
Now let's be clear, I have zero plans to invest in expensive binoculars and turn into a bird watcher...I mean, anyone that knows me would be laughing right now (that's a little much for me).
But downloading the app? Sitting outside in the backyard with my girls and learning a little bit more about the birds that make the sounds that bring me peace and calm in my day?
That I can do. 😊