Do You See What You Look At? by Laurie Zanardelli

While my husband was leaving for work a bit ago, I just paused on my way inside to look at the stars. It was cold and clear, the kind of clear that you usually get in the winter, and was amazed again by the beauty that is all around us that so many are too busy to see. I thought of the kestrel that I'd seen on the stump in the back earlier today, keenly surveying the yard for his next meal. The rabbit nibbling on the vestiges of greenery near the base of one of the oak trees. The squirrels, realizing that their brief January thaw is coming to an end, and instead of chasing each other throughout the yard from tree to tree, returned to the necessary search for acorns in the dormant grass. The plaintive call of the blue jay, the knocking of the woodpeckers, and the cheerful chirping of the chickadee, all remind me that though it is winter still, Mother Earth is stirring.

I wonder at those that cannot or will not see these things. How can so many be so blind to all that is in this world? The other day I was at the grocery store, and flying over the parking lot was a beautiful bald eagle. As I looked around at the other people in the parking lot, I came to the realization that none of them saw this beautiful creature. They were so intent on Goddess knows what, that they couldn't take time to really 'see'.

Knowing this makes me feel a bit sad. So many things in this world would be so much easier to solve if we'd all just stop and look. I mean really look. There are answers there, we just need to see them.