Stopping to smell the leaves, hear the birds

The birds were chirping non-stop this spring. Chirp, chirp, tweet, tweet.

Looking out my window, the birds were fluttering around like crazy. Playful black-capped chickadees, bright red cardinals, tiny sparrows, red crested robins, orange tanagers, swooping orioles. Back yard or front yard, it was the same.

Where did they all come from?

I asked a neighbour if there were more birds this year than normal. A sensed pity in her eyes when she responded.

“They have always been there, Andrea. You have simply stopped to notice.”

Duh.

I had been rushing around, commuting, cleaning, packing lunch, organizing stuff, you get the idea. This spring was the first time I was working at home, and I had more time to, well, look out my window.

What else have I not noticed?

It is a long list, no doubt, but I am not going to dwell on the past. Going forward though, I try to slow down and take in my surroundings. That’s it. When I do this, I tend to use all my senses – sight, touch, smell, sound, taste.

Okay, maybe not all these senses apply to the bird scenario. I did not taste, smell or touch the birds. That would be taking it too far, obviously. But I do taste my food more than when I was eating at my desk. I do smell the refreshing earthiness of the fallen leaves this fall. And I do feel the soft hair on the top of my dog’s head when she nuzzles under my hand for a pet.

Pause and you will notice the things that matter around you.