The world is full of magic things, patiently waiting for our senses to grow sharper. ~W.B. Yeats
One of the reasons why I’ve been so consistent on posting pictures from my walk each day is that taking the pictures trains my eyes to see all the miracles around me. I learn to see beauty in the obvious things like flowers but also in the unexpected or unappreciated things that on other days I just might walk by without noticing; like the subtle beauty of this snail which was making its way across the sidewalk. Most people wouldn’t say snails are beautiful but when I got down close to take the picture I could see there was much more to the snail that I would normally pay attention to. I love the subtle markings on its shell and upper “body.”
©2012 Carol Woodliff
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I also love thinking about why certain animals cross my path. I believe they often have messages us for us. I admit I had to think a little about what message a “snail” might be bringing me. The lowly snail has gotten a bad rap. We talk about things moving at a snail’s pace or snail mail as a description for being slow. This one was moving steadily and methodically along the sidewalk. Seems to me that sometimes we have to be okay working at the snail’s pace and just move forward step by step, doing the best we can do each day. Sometimes we need to pull into our protective “houses” to regroup.
What do you think? What would connecting with the essence of a snail tell you about your life? What kind of magic is around you today to witness?
