Are You So Busy You Risk Losing The Day

I woke up this morning to my usual routine, an hour of work prior to the local cafe opening. Once 7am arrives, I dress my daughter in whatever is convenient, bundle her in her pram and head down to get my morning caffeine hit. I got to the front gate today thought and stopped dead in my tracks. There sitting on the fence post, a mere two feet from us, was the king of the kingfisher birds, an Australian Kookaburra.

I could not believe it let us get so close without flying away. These wild birds are not used to humans. Getting so close to one is so unusual the memory will stick for a long time. I slowly went back into my home, got my wife so she could enjoy this calm presence too. So the four of us stood there for nigh on 5 minutes, enjoying each other’s company with wonder, before our friend finally flew away.

Having had my coffee now though and reflecting on the experience, I realize I blundered my way to the gate, to within two feet of this bird without even knowing it was there. I know the kookaburra was aware of me, was I really that caught up in my own little world though that I did not see this creature till we were almost butting heads? Did I really need to get close enough that we were eyeballing each other before I even noticed he was there?

If I had taken one more step I am sure the kookaburra would have flown away. My whole family would have missed this wonderful start to the day. It would have been a terrible loss, seeing these types of bird so close is such a rare experience. It turned out to be a bit of a wake-up call to me. I really need to slow down a bit and pay more attention. Why is it we get so caught up in what we are running towards, that we forget to enjoy that which is in front of us?

My family hears kookaburras all the time; we live close to the bush right on a river. This is the first time though I have been visited by one of the flock, in such a fashion. The memory will stay with me for a long time though and the song of the kookaburra will have new meaning for me. “Slow down a bit Damian” it will sing “enjoy today and everything it brings”. A message perhaps many of us should heed.

Damian Papworth is a dedicated father. He recently went looking for baby high chairs. He realized the Fisher Price high chair products were very impressive.

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