Returning to the Nest

Here is the link to a site where you can watch, in real time, bald eagle parents raising their young. www.ustream.tv/channel/decorah-eagles. Dad brings home the prey: rabbits, rodents and fish. Mom plucks out the innards to feed to the kids. And at any given time there may be as many as 150,000 humans watching. I'm intrigued by this whole thing for two reasons.

1. This mom and dad act with such purpose, preparing the nest, creating eggs, keeping them warm until they hatch, and then nurturing and nourishing their offspring. They are vigilant but not fearful. They are protective but not stressed. They snatch prey with efficiency and cunning, sacrificing the prey so the predator can live. There is no drama; there is simply a purpose-filled life. I'm curious...what would our lives be like without the stress, anger, regret and revenge that lies below the surface of all our personal and collective dramas. Would we live with the same efficiency, clarity and purpose as these magnificent creatures? Are they teaching us how we can live more fulfilling lives? Take a look and let me know what you think.

2. When you tune in to watch, you will be join by 90,000 to 160,000 other humans. It's amazing to me that, in real time, we are all sharing this common experience, wanting to see babies take their first tentative steps across the nest, eat yummy fish innards, and topple over each other as they settle in for a nap. How hopeful and refreshing that we have left behind the insanity of our man-made world for a glimpse into the wonder of the natural world. And, better yet, we are not alone.

Eagle's Eye View

My New Year's Resolution is to hone an eagle's eye view of my life. When I feel annoyed,irritated or stressed, I plan to fly up into the nearest tree or to soar over the landscape of my life to get a broader perspective. This week, I'm getting ready for a trip (as many of you know, that happens fairly often). This time I am going out of the country, and there are more details than usual to consider. From my familiar place on the ground, it looks like a lot of scrambling for here to there, collecting and organizing what I need. But from my perch high above, I clearly see a network, all connected for my behalf. The man at the diving shop who sold me my new snorkel mask is linked to the neighbor who is taking in the mail, who is linked to the pilot of my plane, who is linked to the sea turtle with whom I plan to swim. It's like one big living organism, all in cahoots to support me and guide me on my journey. From up here it is awesome to behold.

Let's Think....

A friend told me that she took 15 minutes out of her busy thought-burdened day to sit out in nature. She was amazed to hear the flapping of birds' wings, smell the pine scent and feel the warm sun on her cheeks. Her senses woke up! But she was still aware of her thoughts. Only now it was different; her thoughts had more space around them and were less rushed. There was a calm and clarity to them.

We hear that our thoughts are the product of our egos, that we are way too attached to what we think. Thoughts bog us down and make us the victims of our own stories. But thoughts also guide us and teach us when they are born from a calm and nurtured spirit. So head outside, tune in to Mother Nature. Be in her embrace for just 15 minutes and then see where your thoughts take you.