This morning, I came into the office and sat, as usual, looking out the window, measuring my breathing, letting my mind wander about a bit exploring what I might write.  The ticking of the clock on the wall became more consciously audible, the low murmur of the electronic equipment around me seemed to become noisier, and it seemed the mass of birds that surround the house were singing, screaming and screeching louder than usual.  I even had to step outside for a moment and look around at the birds as they were so unusually active, just to see if anything out of the ordinary was happening. 

The sunlight was creeping over the east hill behind the house and all around green parrots and a variety of other birds swooped about.  The morning chill was abrupt and stimulating.  For a few moments I stood, smiling.  Then, back to my desk with a bit of inspiration in my mind and body.  The inspiration came not from the clock, the electronics, or even the birds.  It came from the silence of my mind.  Before I had stopped to listen, I had thoughts in my head that were too noisy to allow me to hear what was going on around me.  I realized my head was already so full of my own inner chattering that I had not heard the sounds of "early morning waking" in my canyon home.  And, et, within less than a minute and only a few short breaths, my attention and my consciousness changed.  I became of aware of my environment and that awareness brought a smile to my face.

This is a reminder to stop several times throughout the day and do nothing other than breathe and become aware.  No external circumstance has to "make me happy."  No wish has to come to fruition.  I simply have to make the time and the "inner space" to be in the moment.  Now, how do I remember that throughout the rest of the day???