Contentment and Reflection on Life.

I walked out the side door on my way to the gazebo for my afternoon break. I was carrying a cup of coffee, warm to my touch. I notice a tickle from a piece of my hair that had moved from the slight wind. It’s a nice day; the air is fresh but not too crisp today.

After I sit I notice a woman standing across the creek; which I can only see because most of the coloured leaves have already fallen. She is just standing there, seeming to be admiring two ducks on my side of the creek. She stands there for a minute or two and looks quite content before she continues on her walk.

This made me smile. This made me smile and think of the enjoyment she got out of just stopping to notice a few things. I wondered if many people do take the time to do this, enjoy nature or any of life’s beauties. And if they did stop did this actually bring enjoyment to any of them? I hoped that it did.

I then started to notice things myself; the same two ducks standing side by side, one female the other a male. The field on the other side of the creek filled with multiple baseball diamonds, a football field, a walking path and a dog running about not far from its owner. As I was looking across my attention turned to the chipmunk running through the gazebo by my feet with its little cheeks full. I noticed the berries on the tree and the abundance of them on the ground underneath and the dark red colour of this duck food. I again noticed the slight breeze, the sound of passing cars and the dull glow of the sunshine through the clouds.

I stayed outside for an extra five minutes this afternoon, I enjoyed taking it all in and the state of mind I was in; contentment just like the old lady.

I hope that everyone remembers to do this, even just once in a while. I say ‘remember’ because to many it doesn’t come naturally, many of us don’t take the time to just absorb our surroundings and take pleasure in it. Besides, if nothing else, whose positive energy couldn’t use some replenishing ;)

"Life is what's happening when you're too busy to notice."
-Wayne Muller