Awe Plus Wonder Equals Compassion

<p>This week, I was on a morning walk with a friend who told me this story about a man, Dave Hughes, who lived under a bridge in Kansas City during part of the pandemic. He was in his 50s and had just lost his job and was really depressed.</p><p><br /> </p><p>Dave said one of the things that was hardest for him was not having pets or animals to make a connection.</p><p><br /> </p><p>Then, one day, he sees this black duck amid some Canada geese and starts watching it. And a few days later, he woke up to find the duck watching <i>him</i>.</p><p><br /> </p><p>It was like the bird was just staring at him, making sure it was all good.</p><p><br /> </p><p>She started sleeping when he did and where he did, and in the mornings, they would get up together and she would just hop into the water there and … be a duck!</p><p><br /> </p><p>This connection he had with her allowed him to realize that they wanted the same things - safety and companionship, which he really needed because it was lonely and scary for him out there.</p><p><br /> </p><p>Dave and the duck stayed buddies under that bridge for over a year.</p><p><br /> </p><p>Then, on March 9, 2022, the duck was gone. He looked for her for hours every day, walking up and down the creek.</p><p><br /> </p><p>And as he did this, he began to get in touch with the other birds that were there. He observed them and learned about their behavior.</p><p><br /> </p><p>Dave describes this as a gift that the duck gave him. Now he notices the elegance of the great blue heron, or the relationship between two wood ducks.</p><p><br /> </p><p>You can hear in his entire being how his mind just opened up to an entire world of new discovery and connection with everything around him.</p><p><br /> </p><p>Mindfulness, my friends. THIS is mindfulness in action, mindfulness in everyday life.</p><p><br /> </p><p>When we open to the world around us, this whole new world and way of being opens up - magic every day, miracles every day. </p><p><br /> </p><p>And, importantly, feeling connected to all t