Welcome

This is my happy place.

Wanna play a game? Okay. This is a game I played a long time ago with a friend. I call it 'listen'.
Listen closely, what do you hear?


I hear... the waves lapping gently at my feet.
I hear... the quiet chirping of an unknown bird.
I hear... the ridiculous honking of the swans on the other side of the lake.
I hear... the rustling of a small animal in the bush behind me.
I hear... the melodious song of another bird. and now that I focus on that noise...
I hear... dozens of birds. Their beautiful songs winding in and out and with each other.
I hear... the gurgle of the natural spring on the other side of the meadow.
I hear... my own breathing.
I hear... the leaves shaking in the breeze.
I hear... the branches of the trees bending with the wind.
I hear... a far distant, barely discernible roaring noise. Could it be coming from the ground? No. Maybe the sky? Perhaps it is the sound of the clouds racing across the infinite blue sky. Really it is the roar of the traffic that is never to far away. But that doesn't occur to me as I are standing here on the banks of Lake Tarawera. Because right here, right now, that world doesn't exist. No traffic, no buildings, people, decisions, problems, troubles, sadness, sickness, or pain. It's just me and the nature around me.
One more sound...
I hear... raindrops falling on the water.
oh well, I guess it couldn't last forever.