The Dance of Appreciation

March 17, 2024

Sunrise March 13, 2024

I appreciate the beauty of the cardinal’s song as he croons loudly from the top of the tree. When the bird song increases in the spring it truly lifts my spirits! I appreciate the buds on the trees as they reach for the sky. I appreciate the tiny bugs I can’t see that draw the birds to those buds and provide fuel for the migrants soon to come.

One of the many cardinals singing vigorously each morning.

I appreciate the little clover popping up from the ground. The grass has turned green again and it’s easy to see why green is the color of St. Patrick’s day. Green lifts my heart and calms my nerves. I appreciate the squawking of the blue jays in the bushes, growing louder each day even as some of them leave for northern destinations.

Clover showing off their green (taken June 16, 2023 - they aren’t quite this big yet!)

Busy bluejay!

I appreciate the one lone pelican out on the lake. I hoped he’d come closer but the first boat I’ve seen this year came through and he flew away. I appreciate the first loon of the season, still changing plumage into his breeding finery. I even appreciate the anticipation I feel as I wait for that first loon call at sunrise.

This weekend’s loon hasn’t come in to see me yet, but through my binoculars he looked a lot like this loon I saw on March 17, 2023.

I appreciate the way the lake provides sanctuary for so many migrating birds even as it holds energetic space for all who live nearby. The ducks come and go each day as I watch through my binoculars. I appreciate the gentle breeze warming the air and providing lift for my feathered friends.

Lots of ducks passing through now. These are northern pintails. Also seeing lots of scaups, shovelers and teal.

As I arrive at what I call “the warbler trail”, I see an area of the park that has recently been razed to the ground. A few trees have been left but most of the vegetation is gone, including the lovely catalpa trees I photographed last year. The field where the field sparrows sing and the old owl kept watch has been cut down as well. I understand this has been done by the corp of engineers, without knowing for what purpose.

Beautiful catalpa flower taken June 16, 2023. Will I find any this year?

My heart aches at the destruction even as I hope the reason is ecologically sound. I see the pile of brush and silently thank every one of those trees and plants for the beauty they have shared and I have witnessed.

When I am in a new relationship - with a place, a person, a job, a home, or anything else - it is easy to see what’s new, what’s emerging, what’s exciting. As the years pass, the losses come. These losses follow the rule that all things change and all things pass. It becomes harder to see what’s new and emerging when my vision is clouded by what has been lost.

Indigo bunting taken last year in the area that has been cut down.

Nature teaches me again and again to look for what emerges after the loss. To feel the heartache of the loss and hold it alongside the possibility of the new. Two days after my mother died in early 2021 I walked out to watch the sunrise. As I watched it I knew that the beauty would help me weather the loss. I didn’t know of the beautiful things that would emerge after that loss then, but the sunrise told me beauty would be found.

Sunrise March 15, 2024 - every sunrise speaks of new possibilities

I didn’t know then that a beautiful new relationship would grow between my father and I. I didn’t know I would come to a deeper appreciation of my mother as I saw her through my father’s eyes. My mother was born on the first day of spring as was her father before her. My DNA is filled with the energy of renewal and resilience. I am growing in appreciation for this gift I’ve been given.

The titmice understand the renewal of spring.

My grandfather was a nurseryman who could make anything grow and bring nearly dead plants back to life. I have a handwritten card he gave me in my teens that says, “It’s amazing what a few weeks of T.L.C. will do for little girls and plants.” Appreciation transmits the energy of love. Finding things to appreciate even in - perhaps especially in - the challenging moments provides that energy of healing and renewal for little girls, plants, and every other being.

Appreciation helps the heart sing again. (song sparrow singing)

I’ve started consciously practicing appreciation every chance I get. There is a sticky note on my bathroom mirror that says, “I appreciate…”. Every time I wash my hands or brush my teeth I say out loud something I appreciate about myself. As I walk in nature I am remembering as often as possible to truly stop and appreciate what I see or photograph. When I talk to another person or encounter challenges, I’m trying to remember to offer appreciation. It’s a practice. The more I do it, the more I remember to do it. The more I do it, the lighter I feel.

Right now I remember like the little elephant - sometimes.

Hopefully, I will soon remember like the big elephant - most of the time!

As I walk by these fields this spring, I will water them with appreciation. It’s the least I can do. It’s the most I can do. I will water my own heart with appreciation too. I wonder what will grow?

I see a heart - the symbol of appreciation.

I truly appreciate every one of you who read this newsletter. I love hearing from you in the comments! I want to offer an extra thanks today to all of those who have been able to financially support my offering here, including the new subscribers!

What can you appreciate in your world today?

I found this rock in the parking lot this morning. On the back it says, “Always take the scenic root. 10-2022”