Hey there !

I saw a bald eagle up in a tree on my walk the other day.  I stopped and stood there, watching it, for a LONG time. When it suddenly spread its wings and took flight right over my head, I couldn’t stop grinning. 

That reminded me of an experience Dan and I had years ago – also with bald eagles.

It was not a typical morning.  Dan and I were up, dressed and out the door at 7:00 for an early morning meeting. When we left, I fully expected to be home by 9:30 (or even earlier) so I could get to work in my office.  I had a BUSY day planned. 

I'll spare you the details and simply tell you that things did NOT go as planned.  As a result, we were just STARTING our drive home at 11:00! 

It was on our way home, driving the country roads, that we saw the most AMAZING of sights – so amazing that I immediately turned the car around so we could take a closer look.  

There wasn’t much of a shoulder so I could only partially pull off the road.  I put my flashers on and then  sat back to watch in wonder and awe.  So did Dan.  

No more than 20 yards from the edge of the road were FOUR bald eagles, sitting on the ground, fighting each other over the fresh carcass of a deer. 

Dan and I were awestruck.  After all, how often do you see bald eagles ON THE GROUND - let alone FOUR only 20 YARDS from where you're sitting in a car?  They were beautiful.  When they spread their wings to "shoo" another eagle away... we could see their HUGE wing span. 

It was, in a word, stunning.  

We sat there, bathing in the beauty and wonder of this amazing experience, for about 10 minutes until, one by one, each eagle flew off.  That was beauty in motion as well.  Both of us were grinning from ear to ear.  

But the real gift of that experience, which seeing the eagle this week reminded me of, was this…  

As we sat there, with our emergency flashers on, several cars came up from behind and had to cross the center line to go around us.  

All in all, probably 20 cars had to go around us.  And even though it was pretty clear we were "gawking out the window" and the eagles were only 20 yards from the road, NONE of these cars slowed down or pulled over for even a MINUTE to watch this rare and beautiful sight.  I felt sad for them – that they didn't see them OR they thought they didn't have time to stop to watch.  

That’s when I began to wonder how often I've done the same thing - so intent on GETTING some place that I MISS the beauty and abundance along the way.  I began to think of all the times I've been rushing someplace, running behind, with no time to stop.  And I wonder now how many "bald eagles" I've driven by, unseeing. 

For so much of my life, I thought that living life fully meant I had to PACK AS MUCH IN as I could... to have every minute spoken for... to always be DOING or GOING someplace.  

What I’ve learned since (call it the wisdom of getting older?) is that if I don't leave space in my life for the simple pleasures and unexpected surprises, I miss out on a lot.  And instead of feeling open, relaxed and abundant - I feel pressured, stressed and anxious.  

I can’t help but wonder if the same might be true for you, , especially as we enter the “busy” holiday season.  Which is why I wanted to share this story with you. 

And so I ask you…

Are you rushing through your days (or life) – in a hurry to get somewhere, finish a project, achieve a goal – and missing the simple pleasures and joys along the way?  Are you missing the abundance that is all around you? 

Is your life and schedule packed so full that you don't have (or take) time to enjoy the “eagles” that show up or come your way unexpectedly? 

If so, I invite you to SLOW DOWN.   As my coach, Pat Honiotes tells me again and again, “There is no hurry.”

The experience of abundance is not OUT THERE somewhere – a destination to get to. 

It’s right HERE.  This day.  This moment.   Look around you.   See it.   Enjoy it.  

Because, my friend, that REALLY IS the whole point.

xoxo

T.

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