The Vision Thing

Deepak Chopra introduced a mantra to me "Om Daksam Namah" (My life unfolds in divine order) in an online meditation course sponsored with Oprah that ended about a week ago. The meditations are really good and powerful, but have also found online life coaching advice from Marie Forleo that is a little less passive. A recent Marie TV episode visits 'Life Vision'; Marie in her whimsical, pithy fashion breaks down "is this all there is?"  She emphasizes "the world needs that special gift that only you have". Right on :-) My vision...it's all about adventure, discovery, learning while wildlife watching. Research has identified many 'restorative' benefits of being outside. Try to make it part of your vision even if it does not intersect with your career/doings directly; you can be outside at some point in time in your day. Plant and animal life can be found in the most urban of environments. Discovery and adventure is waiting for you...where you are. Here are some of my recent discoveries in the Bitterroot Valley (video taken at Willoughby 40).

Cous Biscuitroot

Moss (Polytrichium sp.)

Diploschistes  scroposus (Lichen)

Exploring just like a kid...

Just finished the online 21 day meditation series from Deepak Chopra and Oprah; it was great. Decided to engage the Day 17 centering thought "Through rest and play I open my creative channel". So, I spent 7 hours and driving 93 miles wildlife watching (my idea of play) today. Found 49 species of birds, the highlight being a pair of Long-billed Curlew (Numenius americanus) foraging in an ag pasture (they gave their ethereal song/call on a couple of occasions).

Long-billed Curlew

As the day progressed temperatures got to about 67 degrees; as a consequence butterfly activity picked up. Found seven species of butterfly (six were first of the year for me); three species of tortoiseshell, three species of comma and the state butterfly, the mourning cloak. All overwinter as adults and are brilliantly colored; a rainbow palette for the drab vegetation at this time of year: 

California Tortoiseshell

Compton Tortoiseshell

Milbert's Tortoiseshell

Green Comma

Mourning Cloak

Hoary Comma

Satyr Comma

My experience seemed to unfold in 'divine order'. Yes, in the words of Deepak Chopra "all is perfect, all is well". Namaste.