I’ve found an early morning walk at the Arapahoe Bend Nature area is a great way to start my day. It can help reduce worries I have bouncing around in my head. Just as I reached my car I noticed a Bald Eagle perched above the area, watching, looking for breakfast. Sorry, I only had my short zoom with me so 50mm zoom is all you get.
There is something inside of me that smiles when I see scenes in nature like this and not just because we see fewer of these scenes. I think nature is a wonderful teacher and, in my case, I need to be more of a student. I grabbed my binoculars and stood there watching him. I don’t believe this eagle is worried about the economic situation, taxes, Christmas shopping, the project at work, getting the car fixed, term papers, getting old, mistakes, weeds in the garden, painting the house, etc. Something inside tells me worry may not even be part of its nature because worry is related to a potential future event/circumstance. Animals do not worry because they live in the present. Animals do stress but only to a present situation and results in flight of fight. Its present moment in life is survival: food and water. Very different than man.
10 Comments
Earl
Monte, I love the cool blueness of this scene. I sometimes envy the “in the moment” style of living animals experience…perhaps I wouldn’t if I experienced it myself. 🙂
Monte Stevens
I did some post processing on this image and brought the blues more and the funky feel it has. The image fit the feelings I was having that morning. I feel as you do with a bit of envy for the lifestyle of animals and some people. I believe as long as we are patient with ourselves we will experience more of those present moments.
Steve Skinner
As humans, we all to frequently do little more than exist where as the animals truly live.
Monte Stevens
And that wisdom comes from being there to observe them. Thanks, Steve.
Paul
The blue certainly fits with the winter! The eagle’s only matter in the morning has to do with food. Find food. Kill food. Eat food. Spend the rest of the day sailing the skies until it’s time to eat again. 🙂
Hmmm, sort of like my dog, except he doesn’t have to find or kill the food!
Monte Stevens
You and Hobbs have spoiled and pampered each others so that is true. It would be cool to sore like an eagle just once. However, I may pass eating their kill.
Paul
Fresh mean, man! Fresh meat! 😀
Monte Stevens
I want mine at least medium.
Anita Jesse
Your post brings up an interesting to me idea. Much of the worrying done in our contemporary culture comes from being spoiled. Perhaps we worry because we have the dubious luxury of time we can spend worrying. In previous generations, the struggle to survive consumed all one’s energies. Even today, that is true in some countries. That is a beautiful photograph you made.
Monte Stevens
And, you are right, again. We spend less time and effort on survival than in the past. I watch as my grandchildren daily seek something to fill their time with, as do many adults. Thanks, Anita!