A Moment to Breathe

Feb 09, 2022

A Moment to Breathe

Nature and the element of water can be calming to the mind bringing us into the present moment. Last week, I took a moment to just breathe. Stepping away from the computer and screens and just being present, I went for a visit to the park.

Boardwalk at the Park

The park is a bird sanctuary and a magical place. To capture this magic you have to be still and just observe. There are over a dozen species of birds that call these lakes home and each flock has their own social structure and personalities.

In Flight

I watched as one of the other park goers tossed out bread and fun began. The Ibis moved as one group and gathered just at her feet. The Seagulls fought vigorously over one piece of bread in mid air!

This unique bird is call the Ibis we see them all around our area in groups no smaller than ten. Having breakfast where ever the grass has the best grubs.

The most unexpected behavior was the Whistling Ducks, numbering in the hundreds, they each took their turn for the crumbs! I was so distracted by this behavior that a goose snuck up on me, giving me a bit of a scare!

The Whistling Ducks have a beautiful orange beak and they are obsessive talkers. We hear them year round and in the winter there are always more!

This experience, albeit quite average, was a moment that I would have normally missed. Passing through all the chaos of parenthood, work and family, a walk in the brisk morning air and capturing the sunlight was so restorative.

Lake View

Restoring our mind is so important. Once you are able to recenter yourself, things just come and go so much easier. Getting outside and listening to the birds chatter, the footsteps on the boardwalk and the calls of the ducks, allow us to become calm enough to hear the breeze in the trees.

Life can be challenging to go somewhere to find these moments. I get it, as a working mom of two, life is just busy and unexpected. Being home more often these days offers a new avenue to find your breath. Right in our own backyards, we can create our own sanctuaries. Simple elements like a fountain for the sound of water easily shape the feel of your space. Be it the grand scale of a large patio fountain or the charming size of a tabletop fountain, water is an element that will help calm your mind.