All alone I sat on the balcony. I waited there, quiet and still. A wistful breeze gently tossed the leaves on the live oak. I listened. Nature’s orchestra began to serenade my soul; the squirrel’s lively chatter, the bright red cardinal’s love song embellished by the dove’s coo. Joy.
Embracing sweet calm, I inhaled deeply and slowly, I held it for a few seconds and then slowly exhaled with the intention of getting in touch with my own breath. Peace.
The moment I was anticipating finally came, I dared not flinch as to scare my little hummingbird friend away. I felt my heartbeat quicken with the flutter of his wings. “Please don’t fly away,” I thought to myself. Fortunately, the sugar water in the feeder was more compelling than his fear, so he graced me with his presence. I sat frozen, mesmerized by his beauty, elated in the moment. Gratitude.
My mind clear, my thoughts centered and focused, I allowed myself to be fully engaged in the present. No to-do lists, no thoughts for tomorrow, no replays of yesterday’s missed opportunities, all alone with my hummingbird friend I was enjoying living in the now. Clarity.
He stayed for a while. Over the next hour, he made several return flights to fuel his tiny body and to admire his own reflection in the glass feeder. Each time, I remained completely still and allowed myself to be fully captivated by this tiny marvel of nature. It is as if my soul drew energy from his rapid fluttering wings, my senses heightened, my awareness enlightened, my soul enlivened. Bliss.
All alone I sat on the balcony. I waited there, quiet and still. Content.
The Zen Den
Hello and welcome to The Zen Den. My name is Alison and while I am passionate about many things, my most inspiring driving force is human connection. Blogger, content writer, orthopedic exercise specialist, motivational speaker, international yoga pro, published songwriter, avid poker player, mom and wife are just a few of my titles. But when I do my job at NASA, I am known simply as “The Fairy Zenmother” a role I deeply love because people invite me into their space to help them find their center, relax and stretch their muscles and destress their mind. Here in the blogosphere version of The Zen Den, I invite you into my world where I will explore ideas for creating a better tomorrow and a kinder today. And hopefully, with insight, authenticity and humor; my words, observations and experiences will help you feel calm, centered, intellectually challenged and spiritually enlightened. Alternatively, if you have something you would like to see covered in The Zen Den, just let me know. Your feedback is welcome and valuable to the success of this blog. Finally, my heart is filled with gratitude to have this opportunity to share with all of you.
