I spotted this lovely kestrel the other day, sitting on a branch taking a break from his fast-paced hunting. This little bird had put his whole heart and all his energy into the hunt, and then he stopped to care for himself, preening and resting awhile.
As I watched him, I had a thought. I often hear people lament about how much they have on their plate, and taking care of themselves sits at the bottom of their ‘To Do’ list.
Animals listen to their bodies, and they know how to pace themselves. When it’s time to care for their physical needs, they stop everything. Their very survival depends upon their ability to rest and rejuvenate and tend to their needs.
The same is true for humans. Our bodies are designed to let us know what they need in order to operate optimally. Our bodies signal us all the time, but we’ve learned to ignore the cues and push our physicality beyond its limits.
I appreciate the reminder to slow down and pay attention. After all, we’re allotted only one physical body that must last an entire lifetime.
And I say thank you to the kestrel for the reminder…
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