There is something about walking through nature that pulls one to stay present. I’ve been cultivating this habit for many years now and I flip-flop between feeling proud and feeling embarrassed. I say embarrassed because sometimes I get a sense that my tendency to be easily distracted by nature read “oh look at that beautiful flower, or tree trunk or leaf” is interpreted as “you’re not paying attention to the conversation”.

I realize that is just my own stuff, my need to please others which is rearing it’s slightly annoying head. Regardless, in reality I am paying attention and noticing more than one thing at a time, much like a toddler pulled this way and that by whatever catches their attention.

The difference is (I like to think) I am making a conscious choice to allow my attention to move to and fro in my environment.  I want to savor it all not miss a thing.  Get out of my head and drink in surroundings with all my senses.

When I was a child I was always the quiet one. The listener.  In my head observing, absorbing, but not necessarily verbally responding. I always use to think it was a kind if shyness but now have come to realize that it was is a different kind of attentiveness.

I do contribute but not always right away. The seeds are planted and I usually come back to what has been said. Contemplative I guess is what you would call it. I use to feel self-conscious of it. Okay,  I still do sometimes. I still feel the need to say something spectacular out loud as if that is a reflection of who I am.

But really I prefer to take it all in so to speak. Through all of my senses. And that may mean that while I am listening to someone talk I am noticing in detail the surroundings if we are outside. Noticing the way the trees sway in the wind or the way the sun hits that puddle to reflect jewel like sparkles. Or the way the jay squawks incessantly or that colourful butterfly that flits by or the tiny wild flower poking through the pavement.  I may be noticing all these things on top of what you are saying. That’s just the way it is.

Words are important yes, but I’ll take my “picture worth a thousand words” any day.  Life is meant to be enjoyed with all of our senses.