Taking the time to listen

I love to sit outside and hear the sounds of nature. I can honestly say I didn’t really appreciate or had time to really listen before. But now it is very calming to me to just listen.

I can sit on the porch and hear my porch chimes gently clanging in the quiet breeze.

I hear the birds in the trees, chirping and singing their songs to each other. I always wonder what they are saying. Seems they are not upset about anything, but enjoying the worms they find and insects here and there. I see them eating seeds people place in feeders for them to eat and see them splashing in a birdbath.

I see rabbits eating clover in the yard. Squirrels climbing in and out of trees, burying a walnut here and there.

Seeing a stray cat crouching trying to catch their prey. Even the sounds of tires on the street and noise of big trucks, the street sweeper going by slowly keeping our streets clean.

These are all the sounds that I took for granted before. But now I find them music to my ears.

Even down to the flies that land on the porch railings that I can’t seem to swat. They always fly away as soon as I reach for that fly swatter.

I hear a dog barking in the distance, and a neighbor across the way giving you a wave.

I look at the sky and all the clouds. They almost look like mountains in the sky sometimes.

So my message to you is always look and listen to the beautiful sounds of nature and it won’t cost you a dime.

Plus its good medicine for your soul.

–Betty Adams

Maryville