Sprinkling Seeds and Listening to Birds

Today I sprinkled clarkia seeds into a pot. Clarkia, orlaya, white sage, and calendula - now the pots on my balcony are moist and germinating life instead of being dry and abandoned. The last two days, I’ve gotten up stupidly early to sit outside on the balcony with my moist pots to listen to the dawn chorus. Hello chestnut-backed chickadee, Bewick’s wren, Dark-eyed Junco. Top of the morning to you, Killdeer, Spotted Towhee, and Brown-headed Cowbird. I did a little vague searching last night and, novice birder that I am, learned that it’s slam damn in the middle of spring migration, and, not only that, I live in the Pacific Flyway. In between birdcalls, I watered the plants and poured cups of coffee. My two cats, Temmie and Dawg, stared at me through the sliding glass door. They’re not used to me occupying the balcony this way.

Last year, sometime, I read Boyd Varty’s The Lion Tracker’s Guide to Life. (I recommend it!) His idea is to notice times when you feel deeply peaceful, alive, or so engaged in something that you forget yourself, and to use those feeling states as tracks: follow them to the life you want.

I’ve been thinking about this, and I’ve noticed a few tracks:

Being alone in nature when it’s cool and the sounds of people are muted

Drawing or painting while I listen to an audiobook

Watching squirrels

Spending the morning away from screens

Driving around looking for free stuff on the curb and for Little Free Libraries

I’m sure I’ll remember or encounter more tracks as I go. For now, I’ll keep birdwatching, drawing, and staying away from screens some. For me, these things feel peaceful, magical, and fulfilling. They make life seem like more contentment and adventure and aliveness are not only happening right now, but that they’re building a future that continues along those lines.