The first was last Sunday. I was sitting in the car reading and I heard a bird cheep behind me. I turned around and a sparrow was sitting on top of the fire hydrant across the street. He then hopped onto the chain attached to the plug and, hanging upside down, drank the water that was seeping out of the hydrant. He then left and came back and repeated the process for the other plug on the hydrant. Too bad I didn't have a camera, but then I wouldn't have wanted to move and startle him, either.
The second experience was yesterday. I stepped outside and heard a bird singing. We don't get much in the way of singing birds around here. I looked up and sitting on top of the street light was a red-throated grosbeak. His throat was so red it almost hurt to look at him. It was so joyful to stand there and just listen. He probably had his eyes on a girl (and, most likely, it was not me.)
The third was last night. It was more of a learning experience that excited me. When a cat purrs, he actually expels the air, with force, through his nose. I did not know that the air had such force and I didn't realize that a cat purrs only on expelling the air. I put my head down near our cat (we've had two for almost eleven years, now). He lifted his nose up and purred in my ear. It actually felt like someone blowing in my ear. Although the experience wasn't life changing, I was awed by, what seemed to me, like a simple discovery. I was also surprised that I hadn't discovered it before.
I hope you take time in your day to experience a little bit of joy. Take even just 30 seconds to listen to a bird sing or watch a cat. Even watching a cat sleep can be joyful. Notice the position he is in. Notice the pure contentment. Focus on his peace.
