Present for lunch

 One of the final tasks for this week was to have lunch in a different place. Yesterday my mind jumped from one thing to another trying to decide where best to go for lunch, drive somewhere or maybe wander around my own town and find a quiet spot, I decided on the latter, to do a slow walk locally and to take a packed lunch, it was a great decision. I  found the perfect spot down by the river, private from the route of tourists and yet I was still able to observe  my surroundings.  I  love that sense of awareness that comes from being still, the texture, the scent, the colours and activities of the living world began to fill me.  I didn't need to drive anywhere all of life's greatness presented itself to me while I sat and invited beauty to unfold, no searching just observing.  I watched on as a young girl practised her dance routine, while another balanced on her skateboard, as I looked up I  saw a pair of galahs investigating a new home in an abandoned tree, one patrolled outside, as the other popped in and out of a hole, it looked like she was having a spring clean, quite comical really.  A young family stopped opposite me on the other side of the river with their two dogs and youngster in a stroller, they decided to sit even though the grass was damp from the rains overnight, and let their youngster free to crawl and explore. An interesting elderly man reminiscent of Dr Who with his hat, coat and scarf wrapped around himself interrupted the young girls, maybe he was their grandpa telling them about his younger years or rediscovering how he felt when he was their age, agile and pain free.  I had a lovely time as my world went into slow motion, this is how life needs to be lived, slow, observant, grateful and full of smiles all available when I am present to the moment.