LOOK FOR THE LITTLE THINGS

As I take walks around the apartment complex at various times during the day I see two different classes of people. I wonder if other people see it the same way that I do.

I walk around with my dog, Cookie in the morning and the first thing I notice as we step out of the door is how the birds are tweeting away. We have approximately 440 different species of birds in North Carolina and it seems like they are all in Raleigh at once. I will stand there and look at one of them sitting on a tree branch and I try to imitate it's sound. Sometimes I make them curious and they will look at me, other times they realize I am a fake.

I will continue my walk as Cookie runs around and sniffs the early morning grass. I always wonder what she is thinking. We will hear an airplane taking off from the RDU airport and she always stops and looks in that direction. I will say, "It is just an airplane, honey." She looks at me with that look like, are you sure it is ok.

Later in the day as we are walking around the warmth of the springtime suns feels so warm. Cookie will stop in her tracks and stare at something. Then I see it, a squirrel moving toward a tree, then jumping up onto it. Cookie turns her head and looks at me. Her tail is starting to wag and she lets out a little whine. I say, "I don't think it wants to play with you."

I will see someone that I see often around the apartment complex and we will stop and chat for a few minutes. They are like me in the fact that they love to walk their dogs. We realize that the little things in life are the most important.

Then I see the other side of the coin in people. The little things in life mean nothing to them. I will often see someone take their dog outside and as soon as they do their business they will take it right back inside. A dog need to be walked but apparently these people think their lives are more important than their dog's. I can't help but wonder, what can be more important than showing your dog the love that it deserves.

A couple of other people that I see every day on my walks must have been born with a cell phone attached to their ear. They are in a different world, the little things in life mean nothing to them. I can walk around and see them an hour later and they are still talking on their cell phone. Whether they are pushing a child in a stroller or walking their dog, it makes no difference. I can't help but think to myself, if they put that phone down and looked around them they might see that little squirrel, that beautiful red cardinal on that tree branch, or that bird that just pecked at the ground and came up with a worm in it's mouth.

Those people don't care about the wonders of nature, or enjoying the walk with their child or dog. They are in to much of a rush. The modern world has taken a hold of them. It possesses them, it won't let go.

Yes, there are two classes of people. The ones that will stop and chat with me, pet Cookie, and tell me that it is a beautiful day. Then there are the ones that when I say, "Good morning, how are you?" will just walk right by me without saying a word or nodding their head. The cell phone is more important than maybe making a friend that lives right in their neighborhood.

Don't be to busy to enjoy that walk with your dog or child or the people you are with. Look around you and see those little things that nature has to offer. A little bird or an animal might just make you smile and let you think that you want to see more.


Copyright  Larry W. Fish  2014