The cave you fear to enter holds the treasure you seek. ~Joseph Campbell
Many times during the walk I come across a flock of Canadian Geese.
Most of the time they are on the pond or on the lake. On a few occasions these birds are close to the walking trail or crossing it. As I come up on them, my heart starts racing and fear of them attacking me comes to mind.
I had a little run in with these birds a few years ago when I was going into one of my favorite retail shops, I accidentally walked to close to a nesting ground. The male bird started to fly towards me, squawking at me. I knew I was definitely in the wrong place. It frightened me and many of other patrons that tried to enter the shop that day. Ever since that incident, I try to stay mindful of their presence and respect their space.
Recently, I have decided to give these birds names. 
My names are not meant to be harmful to these birds in any way. My names are meant as a visual reference for the fears generated in my mind. Instead of the sign saying “Caution Feeding Wildlife Can Be Harmful” I see “Caution Feeding Your Fears Can Be Harmful. For instance, in the picture above, I would name these birds confusion, worry, criticism and doubt. By giving the geese these names, I started learning to recognize the emotions that fear generates inside. By feeling and accepting the racing heart beat and the nervousness that arises, I recognize these are feelings of fear. It’s not that the fear will disappear, it is the fact that I have to feel the fear, breathe and keep on moving.
Goose Photo Source: This image was created by Matthew S. Staben http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Canada_goose#mediaviewer/File:Geesespokaneriver.jpg
Quote Source: http://www.quotegarden.com/fear.html
Now that it is starting to get colder here, it is getting harder to get my body moving. I’ve pushed my morning walks back from the 7 am to 10 am already. With the thought of the cold air and having to bundle up, leave more time for the “I’m not going to the park today” attitude to creep in. By 10 am, I have had my coffee and I get the feeling I can make it through the day without walking. Its not until the thoughts of self-doubt raise up that I know I should have chosen otherwise.
Its the bridge. I call it the “don’t take it with you” bridge. There are eight observation areas built in along the bridge so you can stop and stand and not be in any one’s way.
She was at the ice cream parlor eating an ice cream cone. As she sat there, a man not smelling so pleasant walked by and she looked up. He was wearing a sign on his chest that stated he was homeless. She said the “homeless” sign really drew her attention. She said the man sat down a little ways from her. She started looking in her purse and in her car for some money but couldn’t find any spare change. She said as she was looking, something inside her said “don’t give that man any money, that man made a choice”
Some of our signs may say victim, lonely or helpless and we don’t even realize it. It’s not how the world sees you, but how you see yourself that matters. For the longest time I wore an “unworthy” sign on my chest. I got tired of wearing that sign. Now my signs read successful, powerful, wise and worthy. My question for you is: What is your sign?
I love watching them interact with each other. It’s like they are so carefree. I never really paid much attention to nature the way I have this year. I must admit that I have learned so much by just watching the birds play and the flowers bloom. There seems to be a natural rhythm that flows all around us. Just when you see one group of flowers die off, another new batch of them bloom up.
this week. It explores SyncroDestiny, the phenomenon of coincidences. The book was available to purchase at Oprah’s The Life You Want Tour.
The one book that has helped me put some of my feelings into perspective has been Eckhart Tolle’s book A New Earth.
Sweet N Social 
