on presence
January 11, 2017 § 5 Comments
Today’s wind is bitterly cold, uncomfortably so to small patches of exposed skin. It was a day to tidy indoors or disappear into a story, but my dog is immune to the cold and was overdue for a walk. Her needs demanded my attention and so I layered carefully, mindful of the temperature.
It was on this walk, my hair flying wickedly around my hat and scarf, that my companion explored slippery puddles of ice and brittle grass. She understood this was her time and so she savored each minute greedily, her joy as visible as the breath that escaped my scarf.
No matter my discomfort, there was an infectious enthusiasm in my dog’s delight. I began looking in earnest for her next distraction, paying closer attention to the landscape and less to the discomfort of the cold. Halfway home I found my own treasure, easy to miss footprints left in concrete by a small bird.
I was tempted to remove my gloves just to feel the small indentations in the ground, the miracle of something so fragile forever cast in the weight of something whose strength snaked against the bulk of earth beneath it.
Like a child the weather was forgotten for the adventure of discovery. My eyes scanning our surrounding for a new diversion. Returning home I wonder, what magic might we discover beneath our feet if we only pause long enough to find the beauty hidden just under our nose?
scribblechic 
I always used to blame my nose, so many things used to hide under it. But now I realise it wasn’t my nose at all, but the shutters I put around my mind 😀
A cold walk but a beautiful discovery Marie, may there be many more. With a nice warm coat on at least anyway 😀
Coat, boots, scarf, gloves, hat. I was dressed for the weather, but the wind finds the tiniest invitation and spills cold where you cannot warm yourself. I was grateful for the tiniest distraction against the chill; more grateful still for a fireplace and tea to thaw into a good book.
Speaking of hair flying in the wind-see my last post. Tickled me all day 🙂
Love that you’re a people watcher. I hope she wasn’t on her way to an important interview!
Yes, people are inspiring. Maybe she was going to her hairdresser. Had her blow before her cut!