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This morning I
decided to do something different with my early morning walk ..... to
take pictures of flowers down the paths winding round the hilly
neighborhood.
.
You see, sometimes we, in-spite of our
brilliance, don't notice our surroundings as much as we really should.
We simply gloss over the terrain not minding the many wonders, big and
small, God placed in there for our enjoyment and pleasure.
.
We
know it's there but we take it all for granted. Just as we think that
the trees around us will always be there and so pay no attention to
them. Not realizing that even trees, or all of nature for that matter,
also need our attention and care. They too, as we all know it, take care
of the air we breathe and the ground we walk on, and the water that
rains down on our fields.
.
Life on this planet is a
give-and-take. A symbiotic existence.... there is something you have
that I need or something that I have that you need. An interdependent
relationship between man and man... and man and nature.
.
So
this morning I decided to pay closer attention to my walk. And with
heightened expectations hied off with the rising sun so eager to see
lovely surprises packed into this particular morning landscape. By
God's design.
.
These pictures were taken with my phone. It
could be better with the right tool I know........ but this little ole
lady makes do with what she has. I think in this case, it is the object
and not the tool which is magic...... magically Magnificent!
.
Of course, the morning walk wouldn't be complete without the usual trip
to the talipapa (market) for fruits... banana, lansones, mangoes,
pineapple (later sliced and slid into the refrigerator to cool). Added
to my basket too were.. golden squash, sweet potatoes and saging na
saba.
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Great day.. indeed! Thank God!
May God bless you and your dear ones.
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I almost missed my morning walk today because it
felt good staying in bed... rather overstaying... just feeling cozy and
comfy.... the temptation was so great to sleep on. But..... habits
are indeed hard to break. So I pushed myself up and out of bed
grudgingly and gathered my morning-walk-stuff and walked out the door.
Oh yes, I remembered to bring some money for some fruits and to pay my
one-day-old debt with Mang Obet, the fruit vendor at the talipapa
(market).
.
Once I was out on the street the feeling of exhilaration returned and kept me moving at my usual pace and gait.
.
You know, I've been at this for so long already that maybe you would be
thinking by now that I have become quite jaded or bored with the
landscape... both human and natural. Well, it's a yes on some days when
the mood isn't there... but a no on most days when a small whisper from
within reminds me that it's a beautiful world and life and that there is
always something new to see everyday.
.
The streets I walk on
are the same ... perhaps worn and beaten in some parts through the
years... but still good. The people I meet down those same paths are
the same people too.... oh perhaps grayer in the hair... have put on
some weight or lost a few.... have lost someone or gained a new one....
but still the same normal people in my same normal neighborhood.
.
The trees, plants, flowers, animals... the flora and fauna, so to speak... of my neighborhood also seem the same.
.
So I reply to that tiny voice inside... 'There's nothing new.'
Immediately it comes out right back at me with.... 'You're not paying
attention.'
.
I'm NOT paying attention. --- I'm not paying ATTENTION.
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Oh boy! Okay, Mr. Tiny-Voice-Inside, let's see what you want me to see.
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From the top of the slope and looking down the road up ahead... it was
nice watching the play of light and shadows as the sun began its ascent
into the waiting sky. It's the newness of day which warms the soul.
.
While I was admiring the view, somebody whisked past me in his jogging
shoes and flew down ahead nodding a greeting at the man sweeping the
garage of his home, and farther on till he was lost from sight. It's a
nice neighborhood when a smile is freely given away like that.
.
As I resumed my walk, I saw this bush by the road .. so pretty in its
graceful leafy arch stretching out towards the street. Pretty in green!
It reminds me of people whose wonderful friendships stretch across or
beyond barriers of color, race, or religion.
.
Not far from it
was this ball-shaped plant and its spiky leaves thrusting out from its
center. It's pretty. In fact, so beautiful. So much like life.
Sometimes beauty can come from unexpected places.
.
And then I
came to this ugly stump of a tree. What remains of a once glorious and
magnificent tree. Maybe we fail to understand it that these trees in
its wonderful way help to keep the soil together thereby giving us the
solid ground we walk on everyday. There's more to learn if we would
just stop awhile and try to understand.
.
Oh yes, that sign
there. Garbage! It says 'No throwing of garbage in this area'. Speaks
for itself. What about the garbage we find inside our heads... and
hearts -- what do we do with it?
.
See the plants thriving down
on the ground? Talbos ng kamote. .... SCIENTIFIC NAME : Ipomoea
Batatas. DESCRIPTION : The leafy part of the Camote plant is familiarly
known as the Camote tops or Talbos ng Kamote, Thanks to that sign.. it
IS thriving beautifully. ------ It's health benefits ---- It
contains protein, dietary fiber, lipid, and essential minerals and
nutrients such as calcium, phosphorous, magnesium, sodium, potassium,
sulfur, iron, copper, zinc, manganese, aluminum and boron.
► Lowers blood sugar and cholesterol.
► Regulates good bowel movements.
► Boost the immune system and thus helping to prevent infections and disease.
I have it with my meals almost everyday.
.
And finally at the end of my walk, a quick trip to my favorite fruit
vendor, Mang Obet. Bought a few mangoes, lansones, rambutan, chicos,
oranges, bananas... and of course I paid my old debt of thirty pesos.
We exchanged pleasantries spiced with his usual contagious smile. Gee,
people are lovely!
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In your day there are many things to
see.... the old becomes new, the new becomes more interesting,
the interesting becomes much more amazing. Just pay attention. Life
is beautiful! By God's design.
.
Have a great and blessed day, folks! :-) God bless you!
