A few nights ago, my husband and I were walking our dogs at dusk. When we walked by our pond, some of the pond insects were skittering and swimming on the surface of the water, creating pathways and patterns on the otherwise smooth surface. Then our dog barked. My husband immediately called me over to see what had happened and used his phone to videotape something neither of us had seen before.

At each bark, the insects – many more than were otherwise visible when it was quiet – responded with a sudden jerk. Take a look:

We have lived in our home for years, yet we have never seen this. Who knew that insects responded to sound in such a way? There is so much we don’t see, don’t notice, don’t pay attention to – a reminder that there is mystery all around us, and there are always new and amazing wonders to discover in the natural world.

So go out and observe. Sit quietly for some time each day and watch a small window of nature, a square foot is plenty. Just pay attention. Our beautiful planet is amazing. And when we notice and truly appreciate nature, there is little we won’t do to protect it.

Zoe

Zoe Weil, President, Institute for Humane Education
Author of Most Good, Least Harm, Above All, Be Kind, and The Power and Promise of Humane Education
My TEDxConejo talk: “Solutionaries”
My TEDxDirigo talk: “The World Becomes What You Teach“

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Filed under: nature, reverence Tagged: | attention, insects, love, mindfulness, natural world, nature, observation, reverence, sense of wonder, videos