On the eve of my 37th birthday i use this green because it
is my favorite color and i share with you some observations.
Last week after running down the ravine i walked across the
street to the ocean. There i saw a female seagull floating near
the rocky cliff i was overlooking. i surprised her and she
swam out a little to get a better look at me, friend or foe kind
of thing. i said hello, really i did, i said it out loud, and after
a minute she resumed her search for a snack.
As i watched her i took notice of the many different shades
of brown her feathers were. i observed how she gracefully
floated over the waves and guided herself in the current.
She pecked at some sea kelp that was attached to a rock
and went on her way.
In a moment of revelation i realized that in comparison to
the other birds say eagles, or even in comparison to the
other seagulls, she was plain. She was brown, not grey
and blue and black like the male of her species. She is
full bodied and round, unlike the streamlined body of an
eagle. She's just a seagull, most people here hate them,
she doesn't soar, she doesn't migrate, she doesn't have
a beautiful song.
In comparison, she is less than.
I loved her. I thought she was beautiful and I admired
all of her abilities that made her what she is.
I realized that I am not good at some things.
I am good at a lot of things that make me what I am.
Spending time 'in comparison' has had me focused on
my flaws and faults and stolen the joy of experiencing
my gifts.
I was in that same place today. The seagull wasn't there
but 2 ladies walked by with strollers. i assumed their
judgment of me and judged in return. All of this took
less than one second and then I realized...
I am not in competition with the other beings on this
planet. I am in cahoots with them.
I am ok. Everything is ok. Even when it's not, it is.
I smiled at the ladies.
They hadn't even noticed me.