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The birds are delighting me. As I type, two birds are congenially nibbling on their afternoon snack, and earlier today I sat not 10 feet from them while outside working on my porch and they continued with their feasting.
I have recently learned that maintaining a feeder with food consistently is key especially so during the migration season (spring being one of such times) as once they come to know your "cafe" will be open, they depend upon it and will fly regularly to feast. If food is not available, they will have expending valuable energy. Therefore, I am trying to do my part, and
benefiting and smiling giddily from observing them as well.
A sense of community, just like the one we can create in our own gardens with the birds is something I am seeing blossoming in my own neighborhood and town during this uncertain time. While I took our afternoon/evening stroll with the boys around the handful of blocks in my neighborhood two days ago, nearby neighbors were on their porch sitting a healthy distance from nearby
neighbors on chairs they had brought to sit on the sidewalk so they could have a chat in the brilliantly warm spring sunshine. As well, another neighbor had company that drove to see them from across town who sat outside their vehicle on the sidewalk in folding chairs to catch up with their friends. All of this conveys the determination to connect in healthy ways, and I smiled and waved as I passed each conversation (from the middle of the street mind you to give them each a healthy
distance).
As well, I recently learned how to support my local fitness instructors as they are offering classes online via Zoom. By participating in their classes, ones I love and know will be a certain source of fitness and stress release, I am also helping small businesses stay strong during this uncertain time in my own small way. Shared in Monday's post of 22 Ways for Making
Working and Staying at Home a Pleasure, I shared what many of you are already doing - enjoying take-out from favorite local and small restaurants to help support them as well as enjoy a delicious meal that you do not have to cook nor clean up after. Why not choose one night a week and make it a special occasion to look forward to? Sounds like a delicious idea to me. :)
The moment in which we find ourselves is temporary but it is a dramatic shift and that reality hits each of us at a different time and in different ways. The best part of all of this upheaval however is that we are all going through it together. Each one of us is trying to navigate and do the best we can, and by saying hello to a
neighbor, maybe one you have never met, pairing it with a smile and in a genuine way, we can give a boost, we can serve as a reminder that we are strong and we are resilient and we will make it through this, and far better for it if we do so together.
Let me shift to something a bit brighter - the trees are about to burst into blossoms at the moment here in Bend (I know, we are bit behind much of the U.S.), and I am excited to get outside this weekend and weed as I have some mulch I need to spread on my boulevard. I cannot wait to see leaves on my trees again, to see green, lush foliage. What a gift Mother Nature is giving us, and what a reminder that beauty comes from struggle
as well as rest. Yes, we are struggling, but we are also able to rest. So let's do both, and then, let's spring forth. Will you join me? I do hope so. I will admit, I have had some moments of angst, but my boys, my friends, my mother, you - TSLL readers, my students, my neighbors, staying in touch with you all has helped, and then I do what I love: I listen and adhere to what works for me, and that is priceless knowledge. Seek such knowledge out and you will give yourself a most wonderful
treasure.
Thank you tremendously for choosing to subscribe to TSLL's weekly newsletter. Yet again, I have for you three additional posts along with the regular weekly posts you enjoy. Until next week, stay well, and I will see you on the blog.
