06 Dec Rest for the Holidays | Dec 2016
Take time to rest
Egyptian Goose, Female
Important holiday message from the birds: Take a rest.
Pause right now to take a slow, deep breath. Then focus on your exhale as you let it go.
Do this a few times.
Why?
Slow deliberate breathing relieves stress, feels good, and creates inner peace.
So it’s one way to care for yourself with kindness. And we need to be kind to ourselves.
There are other ways to care for yourself, such as:
1) Setting realistic expectations
2) Praising yourself
3) Eating wisely
4) Sleeping enough
5) Pausing occasionally
6) Being grateful
And then, once we take care of ourselves, we can show the same care toward others.
I encourage you to make this a priority. I’ve found that the best way to feel better is to help others.
The Egyptian Goose in the above photo was taking a rest by tucking her bill into her back feathers. Every so often, she would open an eye to check her surroundings. Meanwhile, her mate stood nearby, offering an occasional hiss to let the World know he was there.
Egyptian Goose, Female
The above photo shows a close cropped view of the goose with her eye closed. Notice that her major eyelid moves up, from below her eye. And it has tiny feathers on it.
This is an example of the remarkable details that you notice when studying bird photos.
Much success,
Steve Kaye
Find More at:
The Joy of Photographing Details
Help Birds Tip
Provide Water
Before discarding plastic food containers use them to supply water for backyard birds. First, wash the container. Then fill it with water and put outside. When you have a new container, replace and discard the old one (which you were going to do anyhow).
Did You Know?
The most effective way to help birds is to buy land.
Here are three organizations that excel at doing this.
Please visit their web sites to learn about the work they do.
Here’s an excellent book: The American Bird Conservancy Guide to Bird Conservation
You can help – Please share this blog with others.
Inspiring Respect for Nature, one bird at a time.
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Debra Quam
Posted at 20:55h, 06 DecemberThanks for sharing the beautiful pictures and words of wisdom.
Lynette M. Smith
Posted at 16:04h, 08 DecemberThank you, Steve, for another fascinating look at birds–from their POV (point of view) and yours! I also enjoyed reading that wonderful NSA (National Speakers Association) article you wrote, about giving back in later chapters of your life.
Bob Franz
Posted at 07:24h, 09 DecemberShe’s just wondering who that guy is with the strange gizmo in his his hands.. I note the PHD behind your name – I heard it stands for “piled higher and deeper” – any truth to that? Probably not. Here’s looking at you Steve
Steve Kaye
Posted at 10:21h, 09 DecemberActually the Ph.D. is a persistence reward. I know a whole of lot really smart people who gave up.
Charlotte Liggett
Posted at 16:02h, 11 DecemberHello Steve – have just found your site from Charter for Compassion. Here’s a quick story about two bald eagles I witnessed recently. In the middle of central Illinois, my sister and I had just finished cleaning out the farm home where our parents had lived for 59 years. As we were leaving, there at the end of the lane perched two bald eagles on a telephone pole. To our knowledge, no bald eagles had ever been seen near our childhood farm. One eagle rose high in the air with that beautiful wing span, and then the larger one joined; and they flew off together. Our parents are both facing significant health problems, but have been married 70+ years. The eagles seemed to be messengers of flight, freedom, and faith.