Human/Canine/Bird Encounter

Summary

A woman walking her dog in the park is oblivious to the presence of a great blue heron, contrasting with the author's mindful walking philosophy.

Abstract

The author, White Feather, shares a personal observation from a few summers ago where a woman and her dog walked past a majestic great blue heron without noticing it. This incident underscores the importance of being present and mindful while walking, as outlined in the author's unwritten book on mindful walking. The author emphasizes that walking should be an immersive experience, where one is fully engaged with their surroundings, looking for beauty and subtlety. The great blue heron, fully aware of the woman and her dog, stood still, highlighting the contrast between human distraction and the bird's alertness. The author encourages readers to walk with an open heart and eyes, ready to embrace the unexpected wonders of nature.

Opinions

The author believes that the woman and her dog missed out on a beautiful moment in nature due to their lack of awareness.
There is a subtle critique of the woman's failure to practice mindful walking as she did not observe her surroundings.
The author values the practice of mindfulness and being present, suggesting that walking is an opportunity for sightseeing and emotional connection with the environment.
The author implies a personal history of close encounters with wildlife, as indicated by the mention of their wolf-dog's likely reaction to the heron.
There is an appreciation for the great blue heron's calm demeanor and awareness, despite being overlooked by the park's visitors.
The author hints at a philosophical approach to walking, which they plan to elaborate on in their upcoming book, emphasizing the importance of seeing and feeling the world while walking.

Another day at the park

I snapped the above picture a few summers ago. It amazed me how that woman walking her dog walked right past that magnificent great blue heron without ever noticing it. What is doubly amazing is that the dog never noticed it either.

If my beloved wolf-dog was still alive and I was walking her in the park and we came that close to the bird she would have done everything in her power to fix herself a blue heron sandwich. (Of course, I would not have let her. I would have held on to her leash for dear life. She may have been extremely powerful but I can be strong sometimes, too.)

It’s almost like the woman and her dog had blinders on. Both their heads are cast downward at the ground in front of their feet. Obviously the woman had not read my still-not-written book, Mindful Walking.

Walking is all about sightseeing and being present. You’ve got to take in the scenery. See and feel the world you are walking through. Look for beauty and notice the subtleties. Don’t be afraid to walk slowly.

(That is what it will say on the back cover of the aforementioned unwritten book.)

Seriously, what amazed me the most is that the beautiful great blue heron just stood there. The woman and her dog may not have been aware of the bird but she was definitely aware of them. She just stood there and watched them walk so closely past her. To her it was just another day at the park.

With a quiet mind, walk erect with eyes and heart wide open. Look in all directions. You never know what you might see.

Here is another quick bird story…

Human/Canine/Bird Encounter

Another day at the park

How a Bird Changed Samantha’s Life

Helping her to break out of her zone