Finding Sweetness
October 19, 2025
I love this time of the year, when the light and the dark are in nearly equal measure and temperatures are pleasant without the extremes of heat or cold. This time when I can sleep as long as my body needs and still see the first light of dawn yet make it to work before my absence is noticed.
I love the anticipation when I see the early red creeping up on the still dark clouds and imagine what might appear, if only the sun makes it before the clouds fade away or completely take over.
The robins grow in number every day, as the migrants arrive and join the roost. Bluebirds still roam in packs, the youngsters quickly becoming indistinguishable from the adults.
The swallows have gone, and it’s been a few days since I’ve seen chimney swifts. It’s now the robins, flickers, and blue jays I spend time trying to catch in the air.
The bluejays have begun flying back and forth from the oak trees to wherever they stash their acorns for the winter.
Egrets are still gracing our presence with their angel-like wings and their throaty croaks. I can finally tell the difference between a heron and an egret by sound before I see which one flies around the corner.
The juncos have returned and are busy flying up and down between the ground and the trees.
The yellow-rumped warblers have returned, too, and they flit between the bluebirds and flickers, picking bugs from the tree branches.
Flocks of grackles fly around the far cove, making plenty of noise but only occasionally coming close enough for me to photograph them.
My kingfisher friends announce their presence, too, but it’s still a challenge to photograph them as they fly by.
I have seen small groups of ducks fly across the lake, and a few coots have arrived. Today I saw a group of avocets way across the water. They haven’t come to visit me yet, but it’s still early!
It’s so easy to get caught up in what might be coming. Anticipating the joys to come is delicious, but spending time with the birds here now is sweet. Toggling between the two brings a smile to my face every time.
I wonder how I could do this more in the rest of my life, the part of life that happens after I leave the lake and before I go to bed? To let myself anticipate good things that might be coming while still feeling content with what is already here, even on the days when I don’t feel my best?
My friend Oriah Mountain Dreamer told me, “Find something you love and let it show you how you want to live.” I know I want to live with more contentment and joy in the parts of my life I find more challenging.
I am more aware every day of how short life really is. There’s no time to waste by hurrying through. I want to savor the sweetness.
Where are you finding sweetness in your life this week?
Wow!!! The colors in the pre dawn sky….glorious!!! I find sweetness in 4 granddaughters as grandma’s taxi picks up from school and take/pickup from swimming or dance and watching them cheer at football games and watch them compete in softball and swimming…❤️😍🥰👍
Karen, how do you truly monetize what you love doing so that it financially supports you without stealing the joy? I believe you are more than bright enough to figure that out...