Being mindful is a journey – a goal – a journey – a goal. Okay I know in my heart it’s a journey, but I confess, my mind needs the goal. So let’s just call it both for now, a journey AND a goal.

And… how about another confession? I’m a bird watcher.

You Are A What?

Yes, you read it right. The exciting hobby of bird watching. I’m marked by the cafeteria of fully stocked bird feeders in my yard. And above – those are my books and binoculars. Most people who know me wouldn’t exactly expect this news – and I’m not hiding it per say. It just doesn’t come up in conversation normally unless someone is an avid member of the American Birding Association or retired. But I can’t help myself. It makes me happy. The connection with both nature and its living creatures brings me a sense of peaceful joy.

So why am I sharing this juicy personal tidbit with you? Because I’ve observed a piece of wisdom that we all should be taking from the birds.

Happy Bird Wisdom

One of my daily rituals when I’m home is watching the birds feed. And in the Midwest with the winter chill in full force, my backyard is all a flurry with bright yellow finches, fire red cardinals and shimmery copper sparrows all seeking convenient nourishment. One of my recent observations during an afternoon session was how the birds were present in each moment and nothing more. This was particularly evident when a Cooper’s Hawk, without apology, swooped into the yard in search of it’s next meal. Some birds fled, but many of them took safety in the 10ft tall arborvitae trees. This safety however, is a risk. Cooper’s Hawks are different than others in that they capture prey by flying through dense vegetation. In my yard, this means that they dive right into the arborvitaes. This particular day did not bring success for the hawk. But the part that was interesting to me was that within a few moments, the flock went back to it’s socializing and feeding. Happy to continue the day. No rumination of the trauma. No worrying about the next attack. Danger was gone and they effortlessly moved on to the next moment.

So the obvious question I asked myself was “How could we be more like the birds in our daily life?”

“Be” Like The Birds

Here are a few simple recommendations:

1. Remember that our natural state is to seek peace and “be” in the moment.
2. If you find your mind wandering to past moments stop, breathe and bring it back.
3. Equip yourself with some go-to techniques that ensure that you don’t slip onto autopilot. (For some ideas on techniques click here and here.)

Journey or Goal?

In its purest form mindfulness is a journey of the heart. But certainly, I have a daily goal to be mindful and present. Being in each moment as it occurs gifts us the focus and clarity we need for both joy and success. Obviously our lives are a bit more complex than a bird – but it really does come down to being present and mindful regardless of the demands of life.

For now, I will take the wisdom of the birds in my mindfulness journey by being present in each moment that I am able. But I’m also content admitting that for me, my human mind needs the goal and that’s okay.

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