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The Watching Birds
I like this story for many reasons, perhaps most importantly because the author's observance of these birds and her decision to write about those observations gave me a chance to pause, think, and observe through her observations. By writing, we offer others an opportunity to pause, to look through the window of another person's experience. For me, this quietly told story reminds me of something I read recently by Gloria Steinem on "Turning 50," a milestone I recently passed. She reminded me of the importance of sitting by the window and watching. To pause, to reflect, to observe....to listen. And listening is really what we are doing when we observe, activating that "yin" part of ourselves that so oft gets neglected in our world of rushing. I think of Buddist spiritual guide Tara Brach's teaching that rushing is a form of self violence. I applaud the author and her husband for pausing to watch those birds, to bear witness, and to share.— November 18, 2011 8:19 a.m.