The Morning Run

And a lesson in being present from Bellagheera

I woke up as the sun was emerging for the day and saw Bellagheera, my cat, sitting regally, staring out the window. She had opened the slats on the shutters so she could see. At some point, I’m not sure when, she figured out how to do that. It’s become a bit of a daily ritual: we shut them before bed, and Bella opens them at about 5:30am to watch the sunrise show. Thanks to Bella, we are all early risers now.

In any case, whatever she was drawn to outside that window held her deeply in its thrall. I find cats in general, and Bella in particular, to be an inspiration. In my own efforts to live in the moment and to be more aware, I find myself slightly green with jealousy when I am made to understand by a cat how the smallest insect, or leaf, or shadow is worthy of undivided preoccupation. She sits in rapt fascination of what we “more evolved” animals would usually dismiss as uninteresting. She carefully guides me in this mediation so that I see the world anew through her eyes. The world outside the window.

Suddenly, I was no longer tired and wanted to be outside. I decided to go for a run. Throw on a t-shirt. Throw on some shorts. Tie my shoes. Put my hair up (it’s longer than a rock star’s now and if I just wear a baseball cap, I look like Forest Gump when I run. I actually don’t care if I look like Forest Gump but my wife does.). “I Love You” to the wife. Out the door.

Here's what I saw:

It won't change your life, but it might have changed mine.

I saw my neighbor Dean going for his morning walk. We waved at each other and said hi.

Breath in. Breath out. Breath in. Breath out.

I saw a red cardinal take flight and cross the from a tree on one side of the street to the other. With a flutter of his wings flapping, he flew about three feet in front of my face. He was gorgeous and it seemed, to me, that he knew it.

Breath in. Breath out. Breath in. Breath out.

I saw a black cat that looked exactly my own Bellagheera. I stopped and said hi. I briefly wondered if I had locked the door to my own house. What if it was Bella? No couldn't be. My mind was trying to move away from the present and into the realm of anxiety and worry. I kept running.

Breath in. Breath out. Breath in. Breath out.

I then saw a squirrel scamper across the street, run through a yard, and leap onto a tree and run straight up like he was fucking Spiderman. It, he, was awesome [1]. He shook his tail at me as I ran by. I don’t speak squirrel but I’m pretty sure I was being insulted. Fucking Spiderman.

Breath in. Breath out. Breath in. Breath out.

It was a cloudy morning, but I saw the first rays of the sun peeking through, and, as it did, the birds joined together and sang a chorus to Apollo, to each other and, I'd like to think, to me. I swear a couple of them kept yelling "atta boy", "atta boy."

Breath in. Breath out. Breath in. Breath out.

I felt the mist from people's sprinklers cool my face and was grateful for a brief respite from the heat.

Breath in. Breath out. Breath in. Breath out.

I felt the wind across my skin and the rhythm of my own breath and felt alive.

Breath in. Breath out. Breath in. Breath out.

And so, I briefly gave up my worries and allowed the universe to observe itself through me. After all, that’s what we all are - little pieces of the universe, embodying consciousness that we may observer, experience, and create.

Thank you Bellagheera for waking me up this morning.

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[1] My British and European friends will likely notice my, like all Americans, use (misuse?) of the word “awesome.” I am what I am.