Connecting with a Deer Friend
Posted on January 23, 2020 by Tracy Baranauskas, One of Thousands of Life Coaches on Noomii.
Love and connection are always there, but it's our thoughts that can get in the way.
One thing I really like about walking in the wintertime is that the trees and bushes are bare, and so the view into the woods is expansive. Every once in a while, when I remember to take the time to look, I get a glimpse of one of mother nature’s hidden treasures.
As I began my walk this morning, I was delighted to have such a treat. I almost missed it because her coat blended perfectly into the backdrop, but I saw her when she turned her head ever-so-slightly.
A beautiful doe stood absolutely still just a few feet away from me, and as I stopped in my tracks, we locked eyes. We both briefly stared for a moment, and then she slowly walked into the woods and out of my sight. Her relaxed pace was evidence that she knew we were friends, and this warmed my heart and gave me a feeling of overall peace.
As I write this, it’s difficult to explain the connection I felt with this majestic animal, but I can tell you that it filled my soul with love. For the rest of my walk I reflected on this wonderful feeling of connection, and my thoughts went to my family, friends, clients, and YOU, my dear reader – feeling love and gratitude for each individual as I brought them to mind.
I also thought about how I wanted to write about this experience, and thought deeply about why the connection I felt with this gentle creature was so special to me.
What I realized was the connection had to do with being present in the moment with the deer. There were no expectations, no words, no thoughts about her other than appreciation of her beauty. It was pure love.
This is the basis for all connection, and I thought about how important and completely possible it is to be more present with the people in my life.
The actual connection is always there, but it’s thoughts that can get in the way.
Once we define a person in our mind, our brain begins to collect “evidence” about the persona we have created for them. We then ignore the “evidence” that does not fit our theory. This happens so automatically that we are typically not aware that it’s happening.
However, it dawned on me this morning with the help of my deer friend, the way to get back to the natural state of love is simply by being present with others in gratitude and without expectation.
I loved these thoughts that were new for me and wanted to share them with you, just because.
