It’s the simple things…

 Oh my….it’s been a busy few weeks since school began. Being a teacher can be all consuming, much like other jobs I’m sure. What I’ve always known and yet somehow forget in the midst of life’s demands is that simplicity and the ability to maintain focus on what really matters makes such a difference. Regardless of whether I’m at work, home, or wherever/whatever I’m doing, if I prioritize simplicity and focus on what really matters, everything goes so much smoother. 

Part of today’s simplifying was deciding to rest instead of going on a hike with my family. It was tempting to join them, to spend some time together. I thought about how the birds have begun migrating and knew it would be a great opportunity to catch a glimpse of some rare birds. Just yesterday, I saw what I believe was a warbler at my backyard birdbath—a rare occurrence, as they seem to prefer to stay high up in the treetops. Even with all that, I felt the pull to stay home and just be—to rest. I filled the bird feeders, clipped some of the morning glory vines to make space for the birds at the feeder, did some knitting while listening to a favorite podcast, had lunch. This afternoon, I got to watch the residents monarch and hummingbird take turns sipping on the zinnias. I had just been reading about how the hummingbirds will likely be migrating any day now and will fatten up in just a few short days in preparation for the trip, so it felt extra special to be observing this one flitting from flower to flower.

As I move into this new week, I hope to remember to keep things simple and to focus on the things that matter. I have some thoughts I might share on a future post about the ways I’ve found this to be effective in my work with my students. But for now, here are a few pics from the several I took this afternoon. 

Coming in for a landing!