Things that bring joy: Notes on a miracle

As I started on my walk last Sunday, it hit me: This is a miracle! All of it! The sky, the trees, the light, the squirrels, the chilly air.

I took notes.

• Warm morning sunlight brushes the pavement and paints the bricks in gold, in light, in shadow.
• Gingko trees tower overhead. Fallen leaves—precise, ribbed, yellow fans—form piles of gold aside the walkway.
• Gingko trees have been around since the dinosaurs!  They can live hundreds, maybe a thousand years.*
• Breezes ruffle branches full of leaves, prompting leaf showers.
• Poofy white clouds migrate across brilliant blue skies as if the glorious fall leaves weren’t sufficient! This too!
• Backlit, cut-leaf Japanese maples glow lustrous in shades of red, yellow, light orange.
• Tree leaves whisper, the wind whooshes, dried leaves race crackling across the street.
• One large, perfect creamy orange rose, fully open, faces me above the walled garden.
• A little girl—in white tights, red dress, and a flowered parka— walks hand-in-hand with her father, earnestly discussing…?
• The copper-colored car with the “Mudita” license plate brings a smile to my face.
• A little girl in a plum-colored jacket and leggings runs down the alley flat-footed after her mom, plop plop plop, water bottle dangling.
• A crow caws in the distance, and I wonder, where are all the birds this morning?
• A tiny black squirrel I’ve been seeing around lately hesitates as I approach my building, but he doesn’t run away. I bet he’s been seeing me around lately, too. 🙂
• Home, invigorated, I sit curled on my couch with a hot cup of tea!**

May all beings be well, be happy,
Live with ease and peace. 

* JoAnna Klein, The Secret That Helps Some Trees Live More Than 1,000 Years

**Traditional Medicinals Immune Zoom Lemon Ginger Tea — A most excellent tea!