A flock of pelicans in flight against a clear blue sky—a majestic display of living in the present moment.
The Beauty of Now
Lessons from a Flock in Flight
As the pelicans spread their wings against the blue, they capture the essence of living in the moment, teaching us that life's true beauty unfolds in the ‘now'—an infinite canvas of the present.
About The Visual Intervention
Received the Visual Intervention in 2011 – Topsail Beach, North Carolina.
Sometimes life feels like a series of snapshots, like photos in an album you flip through on a lazy afternoon. The photography of pelicans in flight, frozen against the sky, got me thinking about these snapshots—especially the ones we live every day. We often rush from one to the next, barely living in one moment before worrying about the next. But have you ever tried just… being? Like really being in the moment?
These birds soaring across the endless blue—they're onto something. They don't waste their flights worrying about where they'll perch next; they just fly. That's what mindfulness is all about. It's about feeling the wind as you glide, about noticing how the sun feels on your feathers, about the rush of air that lifts you higher. It's about the now.
In work meetings, when I should have been focusing on the person talking words, I sometimes found myself adrift in thoughts of what's for lunch or the game after work. But when I remember those birds, it helps me snap back, to listen, to be there in that room, with those people, in that moment.
And it's not just about the good times, either. It's easy to be present when you're laughing with friends or scoring the winning point. But what about when the day is just… meh? Or when you mess up? Mindfulness is there for that, too. It's about sitting with the uncomfortable stuff, not trying to fix it or judge it, but just letting it be. Like those birds will hit a storm now and then, but they keep flying.
Each flap of their wings teaches me that life is a series of ups and downs. They don't just fly in a straight line. They dip, they rise, they turn. And each movement is a part of their journey, just like every little thing we go through is a part of ours. There's something cool about knowing that.
So next time you feel overwhelmed, or even just bored, take a breath. Look around. Be there. Because life's happening now, and you don't need to be perfect to appreciate it. You just need to be here, to be you, in this perfectly imperfect moment. After all, that's where the beauty really is — in the flying, not just where you're headed.
I am not sure where this journey will take us, but for now, you will receive a daily digest of my blog posts. Let's explore the path of conscious change together!
