Perception misperception

Without sound or movement, you cannot truly know what is happening in this photo. At first glance, you may think that it is obvious what is happening - the baby birds are squawking with hunger, open mouthed and ready to be fed. I took this photo. I can share with you, the reality of what is happening - the baby birds are sleeping with open mouths, to help them stay cool.

I remember this day well. It was over 80 degrees outside - an unusually hot spring day. As I stood up on a chair to capture the photo, I could hear the baby birds breathing - soft and shallow. It felt like they were barely hanging on to life. Witnessing their vulnerability and fragile beauty left me feeling breathless. The world around me stopped as I found myself completely immersed in one thing only - tiny baby birds breathing in, breathing out.

Our observations and interpretations of the world around us are not reality. Understanding what is reality, takes a lifetime of practice, self-reflection and commitment. Even then, our perceptions will skew our vision and catch us off guard. There is a phrase that's been attributed to various modern authors, but I suspect this sentiment has been around for thousands of years - "Don't believe everything you think." If you want to understand reality, start there. Question your thoughts. Question the thoughts that judge others or yourself. Question any thought that urges you to speak or act quickly without reason. Question thoughts that flow into words that leave a bad taste in your mouth. Question a belief that has no basis. Question a belief that causes harm or suffering in any way.

Don't believe everything you think. Let the fragile complexity of a moment draw you in and the precious beauty of reality breathe you out.

Bonnie Burton

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