I just recently came back from a trip to Chicago and Milwaukee. Both great cities and being able to see a baseball game at Wrigley Field was wonderful. I’ve been to both cities before, but it has been awhile. So I made sure I looked around during this visit. Not just at the sights. But at what people were doing and not doing. I looked for new birds and ones I don’t normally see along with other animals on the ground.
It didn’t take me long to realize how little wildlife there is that is visible in our cities and suburbs. I love Seagulls, but saw a lot fewer then I expected. All birds seemed to be scarce. A few here and there and I saw a woman being dragged by her dog who was chasing a rabbit. The rabbit won by the way. I remember there being squirrels in suburbs and parks where we spent most of our time. I didn’t see even one squirrel.
It wasn’t for lack of looking either. Whether riding in the car going someplace or just watching out the hotel window I watched and my heart began to ache as I missed my animal friends.
Our hotel outside of Milwaukee was by a river and the attached restaurant where we had breakfast had a huge window to look onto the river. I spent most of my time looking out the window and hoping to see some of my animal friends. A sparrow now and then was all I saw. But then, I decided to look around at others in the restaurant. As I watched all the people who had this beautiful view, I realized that none of them gave it a look, not even once while I was watching them. Their food and even who they were with got all the attention. One woman was by herself and she ate and stared at the seat across from her the whole time.
It wasn’t just the view, no one looked at anyone else either. It was like watching people in a one way mirror. Invisible to them and yet they know there are people on the other side.
Of course, I’m not saying don’t pay attention to who is with you or stare at people. I’m saying, notice what is around you. We miss so much information and beauty by locking ourselves up inside ourselves. When you don’t even think to look out the window next to a river while enjoying a meal, your world may be too small.
Our last breakfast looking out the window I mentally asked those above to let me see a few more animals before we left. I called out to the animals around asking them to come see me. A moment later, a female Robin showed up which is currently my animal totem. Then a few more sparrows and gulls started to circle above the river. Another minute and a woodpecker landed on the trunk of the tree next to me and looked for food. A Gold Finch settled on a branch and then numerous sparrows.
It was then time to go and as I walked away from the table I saw a flash of red fly by and a male Cardinal landed in the tree across from me. I’ve never had the pleasure of seeing a live one, only pictures. My silent prayers and call out to these wonderful little spirits had been heard. I bless and thank them.
We then flew from Milwaukee and had a 3 hour layover in Kansas City, MO. One of the smallest areas for connecting travelers I have ever seen. 100′s of people and a total of 4 stalls in the 2 bathrooms for the woman to use. Needless to say, there were lines. A little boy was having a melt down being tired and sick and I was beginning to wonder if noticing what was going on around me was really a good idea.
Thankfully there was free wi fi and I got locked into the internet for awhile. When I came too from the internet zombie land, I realized a woman in a wheelchair had been sitting alone and with no help for almost 2 hours.
Without thinking (I do that alot), I went up to her and asked if she was okay and needed some water. She looked at me with such pleading eyes and asked if I would take her to the restroom. Here this poor woman was with no one checking on her or helping her. She was invisible to all of us. I took her to the restroom, which was quite the event with only 2 stalls in it and asked the woman standing in line if they would be kind enough to let her go first. They all said yes though a few looked pained. Bless all of them for that kindness. I then got her some water and thankfully our plane landed about 15 minutes later.
What I found interesting is this woman’s reaction to my “seeing” her and those around us. She was grateful, but stunned and looked at me like I had two heads. So did the people around us. I took note of it, but at this point I’m use to it, especially being psychic and I find it amusing.
Strange that a simple act of “seeing” someone is looked at as odd. The simple awareness of looking around us at the plant and animal life and noticing them is usually never considered. How many times can we reach a hand out to someone if we “saw” them. How many times can we feel our heart fill with warmth at the sight of a bird we’ve never seen except in photos because we’ve gone outside of ourselves and ”see” them.
By the way, it had been a very stressful trip and I had become ill during it. All I wanted was to go home. But, because I looked around and out of my discomfort I was able to make myself feel better by doing something nice for someone and having animals do something nice for me, not to mention my angels. Don’t worry, I still managed to complain (especially about that airport and the plane being late) I am human, but that doesn’t matter now. That made this trip very successful.