I have a friend, Koji, in Japan. We’ve never met. I originally contacted him about some business which didn’t work out. Somehow we have stayed in touch and I know we share a kindred spirit.
I have been to Japan several times, always on business. When I do these trips I always take time to see the countryside and get to know the people and culture. I, like many I believe, don’t always see what is in front of me – the proverbial “missing the forest for the trees”.
Recently Koji sent me an email about spring in Japan and the cherry blossoms once again coming to life. In the few words he used to describe it, I could see them and smell them and hear the sound of the wind rustling through the branches. It was beautiful.
My friend is in Paris now. She is exploring and photographing the sights and sounds of that wonderful city. I recently received an email from her too one morning.
She spoke about looking out the window in the early morning and seeing “the shadow of the flowering balcony painting its pattern along the hem of the bedding”. This while “listening with her Buddhist ears to the church bells down the street mixing with those of Sacre Coeur off in the distance”. I think she is seeing the most beautiful sights of Paris and these are not listed in any tourist guide.
This past week has been very stressful. From the demands of a young company to those of a 17 year old daughter, life was taking its toll on me. I hadn’t been in the water nor had I even taken time to look at the sea this past week even though I live within blocks of the beach.
On Tuesday I had a 9am appointment in an area of town I was not too familiar with so I went early. I knew if I was too early I could go by a marina that was close by and have a look at the boats. I got there much easier than I thought and therefore much early than needed so I went out to the marina. I parked and started walking along the waterfront.
It was still early and there wasn’t much movement yet. As I slowly walked around I began to take deeper and slower breaths. It was peaceful. I began to hear clearly the clanging of the halyards against the aluminum masts. I could hear sound from several different kinds of birds including the longer shrill of the gulls. As I walked past blossoming flowers, I could even hear the hum of the bees wings light from one flower to the next.
It was very peaceful. My walk lasted only about 25 minutes but in those 25 minutes the stress of the week vanished. I left with a contented smile on my face and a new attitude to go back to work with.
Things are hectic, the traffic is bad, work is stressful and kids can be too, but everywhere there is a special little place where one can take a slow deep breath and really see what is front of them. The sun’s sparkle on the water, the bead of dew on a flower petal, the sound of a birds call, these are the things to pay a little attention to each day. If we simply open our eyes and really look – even for just a few minutes - our days will be less stressful and more peaceful and collectively this too will have global implications.
2 comments:
Wonderful blog. When I get a free moment I'll add you to my links and contribute a tiny bit to having what you have to say heard. I get the feeling a swell is growing out of this expanding group of what you might call surfers with a "different" attitude.
Thanks.
The Way to Live...Dated: Paris, Montmarte 2007, 22 C - another beautiful day. I exit the apartment looking forward to the journey down five flights of what looks like antiquated hand carved wooden stairs - you can see the grain and knots in each plank and the steps bring an uneven cadence to each step. Out the iron doors to the bustling cobbled streets, passersby with their croissants and warm baguettes wrapped with a brown paper wrapper only large enough to protect it from your hand. Usually there is one bite missing! The daily trip to the market for the evening meal, along the way the sights and sounds are almost too much to take in - sometimes you just have to sit and breathe it all in. I bought the most delicious fabric today to bring back and trigger memories of this place - shades of a Parisian interior for my home back home. The TV is going when I get back - I already opted out of the absurdity of the so called news and negativing - now I can add room for one more cozy chair in the salon and create a bigger space for good conversation or if not, just pleasant silence allowing the sounds and rhythm of the nature of God's creation to speak. Auvoir!
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