Walking alone does not necessarily mean alone. During my early Saturday morning walk, I noticed many friends. I don’t know if any of them would consider me a friend, but that’s okay. The opinions or assumptions of others do not need to control our perspectives and conclusions.
The chipmunk chose to rush her way away. I wanted a conversation. She did not.
The rabbit refused to move. Staying still until I walked too close. Then he hopped away in a hurry. Rabbits do that.
The deer stopped her breakfast and looked up. I guess you could say we made eye contact. No sudden moves from either of us. Until I was ready to take her picture and she ran into the woods.
The hawk rapidly flew over. A plan, I assume. A goal, I guess. No time for a conversation or a picture. Just business. And breakfast.
The birds. So many birds singing their Saturday morning songs of celebration. Making announcements. Stating opinions. Rejoicing as their normal routine. A cardinal stopped and stayed a while. Flying up to a limb on a skinny tree. And then gone.
I could have taken it personally and made everything about me, as we often do. Did I do something wrong? Is there something about me the rabbit does not like? Why did none of my Saturday morning friends seem glad to see me?
We do ourselves harm by dwelling on so many issues about us.
It was much better to think about each animal: their fears, their needs, their place.
The chipmunk in a hurry. The many squirrels in their normal routine. The birds singing their morning hymns. The dog held in the hand of a man who walked by, going the other direction.
Let’s just stop thinking about us. Think about them. The trees. The wind. The clouds. The birds.
Refusing to stay focused on ourselves is not denial of our needs or concerns. It is remembering there is so much more to life.
Take a walk.
Take a look.
See.
Hear.
Make the choice to rejoice.
And enjoy those who might never stop to notice you. Consider them friends.
Walking alone does not necessarily mean alone.
