![]() As I walked past with the tiniest tiny Luck Luck bouncing along on the end of her strap I heard the words of one of the surfers on the wind as he past “Why do people have those stupid small trophy dogs?” We passed two young surfer’s carrying their boards under their arms and beaming of that wholesome freshness that only the nurturing sea can produce. The dogs were enjoying the moody cooler weather and bounced along with joy and freedom that a cool change brings to their existence. We were on our daily dog walk expedition down to the look out tower at the beaches edge. There are many examples I can use for this story but the second example happened this morning. I remember being fascinated at the difference between inner life experience (which then felt like reality) and outer life perception of me. But on the inside, I was always in a constant state of curiosity and questioning and a state of marvel at the world and how it worked and confidence in my ability to speak with substance when required. To the outside work environment I must have appeared serious, shy, not interesting and lacking in confidence. I remembered marvelling at the difference between how I must appear to people and how my inner life felt. One of my work colleagues at the time, approached me and said most honestly and not with malice “Wow I thought your talk was going to be boring and you would be shy, but that was really fun and interesting”. One in particular has stayed with me all these years. Afterwards several people said how much they enjoyed the talk. I had fun with the topic and with a few heart felt jokes the audience and I had built a common understanding. It’s funny because if I gave that talk now I would start with “Time, an interesting construct that doesn’t exist…….” □ but then I played it straight and stuck to the popular topic of how to be more effective by nipping time wasters in the bud. Many moons ago I was asked to present on, of all things, time management. The first example happened in the distant past, the second example just this morning. I love these feelings as I use them as guideposts back to a kind of sweet nothingness. Have you ever had that uncanny feeling where you realise that the outer story and inner story do not match? That in congruency between appearance and essence. It is the silent and enduring hum that animates everything. It is your true compass, your nature spring of unending grace. ![]() Do not let anything separate you from that deep desire. It has been said that the path to enlightenment starts with a deep longing, a deep desire to know the innate life within you and all others. Wanting is like everything else, used well it will set you free, used unwisely it will enslave you. So take the time to sit quietly each day and let what you want present itself. And the ability to distinguish might just be what decides if you live in a pantomime or paradise. Yes it does, it might be the most crucial, fundamental question you answer in this lifetime. How do you know what you want is truly what you want? In an environment over burdened with suggestions, promises of wholeness and whispers of the pathways to happiness, how do you distinguish between what is a manufactured “want” from an innate “want”? And for those of you who dismissively retort “does it matter?”. If I have learnt one thing, these days simplicity is………. In that zone, life is simple and devastating beautiful. So simple and so concentrated, all awareness on one thing. Nothing fills my heart with joy more than seeing a creature that knows what they truly want. Toast in beak it went to high ground in a palm tree swaying lightly in the breeze and consumed it’s bounty. I watched as the cockatoo opened one eye and with the grace of God flew effortlessly and accurately to it’s toast target. Momentarily someone left a plate unattended as they turned their back to chat to someone behind them. At breakfast, I watched as one sat on the railing enclosing the pool, off to the side, so as not to attract attention. ![]() Each day the hotel issues warnings about leaving anything open or unattended for fear that these motivated birds will help themselves to their heart desire. They are everywhere and you feel them watching you, waiting for you to leave a window or a door open so they can come inside and forage through your belongings for tasty snacks. I love it.īy far the most interactive bird is the white cockatoo. When the birds go home for the night, the fruit bats take over so the sky seems alive in this place. On this island it feels like there is every kind of bird and then some flying around, singing their songs. I feel like I am on the set of The Birds.
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