I thought about how many tiny miracles we miss every day.
Ironically, I had my headphones on before reading this. When I took them off, I didn't hear birds, but I heard my 'unofficial' pet squirrels making a raucous noise outside.
Oh yes -there is one we lovingly named Mrs. Hubble. I speculate that she lost one of her feet because of some idiot with a whacker. :( I take videos of her, Sophie - she is the smartest.
Good advice indeed! I do like listening to an audiobook or podcast sometimes when cleaning my apartment - it makes me look forward to cleaning and results in a cleaner home ;) But outdoors I stopped a few years ago when my mp3 player broke and I've just never replaced it. I feel that headphones do not just shut out other sounds but generally disconnect me from my surroundings.
I didn't know the tui - lovely! Reminds me of starlings, which also get more and more beautiful the closer you look.
Funny story. I pulled my phone out of my pocket and this article was open. Not sure how it happened 🥳 but glad it did.
It is very beautiful, thanks for sharing. A few days back I was talking with a student about the Wheel of Fortune tarot card and how the sphinx sword touches the bird. I saw this as a divine creature whispering the music of the spheres to the bird so they can come down from the heavens and sing it to us. I like this image 🙏🏻
I loved this so much, Sophie. And feel it found me today for a reason.
I spent years pounding the pavement, running with my head down and ears jammed full of music or podcasts. The miles racked up but I missed so much.
It’s easy for me to slide back into that old behavior. It presents in many forms.
Today I will listen with ears actually open. Often I have to convince myself, leave the AirPods at home so you can hear what’s in the actual air! I never regret doing so!
This is great Sophie. I got "told off" once for running with headphones on and missing out on life around me. So true - we miss too much when we plug in all the time to these instant dopamine fixes. I'll share this article in my newsletter tomorrow.
Since arriving to Puerto Rico for the winter, my rhythms have shifted. The bird song wakes me up, not my alarm. I pause in bed and just listen to the earth, the creature waking up. Today, I lay slowly waking trying to decipher what I was hearing, was it rain, wind, a combination? Intrigued I laid there and just listened. It feels like a sweet little gift I am giving myself daily to wake in this way and I imagine this little gift has positive ripple effects both conscious and unconscious for my nervous system and overall sense of well being. Thanks Sophie for sharing with us. ✨
I love this piece so much Sophie. That was me too in my younger days, always, always with music on. Oh, and the irony is, that after reading this I clicked straight on your YouTube clip, instead of stepping outside into real life (the fantails have been particularly chatty in our garden this year) 😁😂
Lool I hadn't even considered the irony yet of including an hour long video with a piece that's all about not doing that exact thing 😂😂 but glad you liked it 😀
Wow I can relate to this so much. I've recently gotten back into a habit of listening more to podcasts and music again instead of being present in the moment and noticing what's going on around me. Thank you for the reminder to take my time and simply listen to the birds and be open to what they can teach us 🤍
Oh man, I love this, Sophie.
I thought about how many tiny miracles we miss every day.
Ironically, I had my headphones on before reading this. When I took them off, I didn't hear birds, but I heard my 'unofficial' pet squirrels making a raucous noise outside.
That's so cool, I bet the pet squirrels are so much fun to observe!
Oh yes -there is one we lovingly named Mrs. Hubble. I speculate that she lost one of her feet because of some idiot with a whacker. :( I take videos of her, Sophie - she is the smartest.
When you share those videos on here please tag me 🥺😁
Will do :)
And you delivered 😁😁
Good advice indeed! I do like listening to an audiobook or podcast sometimes when cleaning my apartment - it makes me look forward to cleaning and results in a cleaner home ;) But outdoors I stopped a few years ago when my mp3 player broke and I've just never replaced it. I feel that headphones do not just shut out other sounds but generally disconnect me from my surroundings.
I didn't know the tui - lovely! Reminds me of starlings, which also get more and more beautiful the closer you look.
Nothing wrong with creating some extra motivation for cleaning 😀
Funny story. I pulled my phone out of my pocket and this article was open. Not sure how it happened 🥳 but glad it did.
It is very beautiful, thanks for sharing. A few days back I was talking with a student about the Wheel of Fortune tarot card and how the sphinx sword touches the bird. I saw this as a divine creature whispering the music of the spheres to the bird so they can come down from the heavens and sing it to us. I like this image 🙏🏻
That's a beautiful image, thanks for sharing that Like 😊
I loved this so much, Sophie. And feel it found me today for a reason.
I spent years pounding the pavement, running with my head down and ears jammed full of music or podcasts. The miles racked up but I missed so much.
It’s easy for me to slide back into that old behavior. It presents in many forms.
Today I will listen with ears actually open. Often I have to convince myself, leave the AirPods at home so you can hear what’s in the actual air! I never regret doing so!
Glad my article found you and resonated with you Allison 😊
I love this sentence - leave the AirPods at home so you can hear what is actually in the air!
Thanks, Heather. I may recycle that and use them again!
Yes! Whatever fits the moment :)
Thank you for this lovely post, Sophie.
What a kindred spirit you are!
I too love the birds and nature and have been in a deliberate slowing down process for the last few years, that have connected my yearning for both.
Now, here in Zambia, the birds wake me every morning and beckon me to come listen to all they have to say in their various languages.
They bring me such joy amid the challenges of living here.
That's very cool. I remember coming across you and thinking the same "what a kindred spirit" 😊
Really? How sweet
Sophie this was a beautiful read, poetic even!
It reminds me of when I'd take my dog on walks before school and hear the morning doves swoon. Ah, simpler times.
Maybe those simpler times aren't so far away after all ☺
Thanks so much Kate 😊
This is great Sophie. I got "told off" once for running with headphones on and missing out on life around me. So true - we miss too much when we plug in all the time to these instant dopamine fixes. I'll share this article in my newsletter tomorrow.
Thank you and thanks for sharing 😌
Welcome
Love the message Sophie. I was like you recently. Taking every break to listen to a podcast or scrolling through the feeds.
This year I stopped. It’s about being in the present . See the nature notice the beauty around us
An important message to pass
Love it! It really is an important message!
Since arriving to Puerto Rico for the winter, my rhythms have shifted. The bird song wakes me up, not my alarm. I pause in bed and just listen to the earth, the creature waking up. Today, I lay slowly waking trying to decipher what I was hearing, was it rain, wind, a combination? Intrigued I laid there and just listened. It feels like a sweet little gift I am giving myself daily to wake in this way and I imagine this little gift has positive ripple effects both conscious and unconscious for my nervous system and overall sense of well being. Thanks Sophie for sharing with us. ✨
That sounds like a much better way to wake up than with an alarm 😊❤️
It surely is!! :)
Beautiful advice, Sophia. ♥️🪶
Thanks Holly! 🙂
I love this piece so much Sophie. That was me too in my younger days, always, always with music on. Oh, and the irony is, that after reading this I clicked straight on your YouTube clip, instead of stepping outside into real life (the fantails have been particularly chatty in our garden this year) 😁😂
Lool I hadn't even considered the irony yet of including an hour long video with a piece that's all about not doing that exact thing 😂😂 but glad you liked it 😀
Wow I can relate to this so much. I've recently gotten back into a habit of listening more to podcasts and music again instead of being present in the moment and noticing what's going on around me. Thank you for the reminder to take my time and simply listen to the birds and be open to what they can teach us 🤍