Sometimes we get partway through a walk and realise we’ve spent most of it looking at the path. Thinking about what needs doing, or simply letting our minds wander.
Then a bird calls, and we look up.
There might be a little bird perched on the highest branch, singing as though it has something important to say. Or a cloud drifting overhead that looks vaguely like a rabbit until it stretches into something else.
These are the little things we miss when we're busy getting somewhere.
You don’t need to know every bird’s name to enjoy a bit of bird watching on your daily walk. Start with what you notice. Its colour. The way it moves. Whether it’s alone or keeping company.
Sometimes, stopping for a moment lets you see more. A branch that seemed empty suddenly has two small birds hopping through it.
Clouds are worth a pause too. Some days they’re thin wisps against a blue sky. Other days, they pile up in great soft heaps, with patches of sunlight moving across the ground below.
A nature walk doesn’t have to mean travelling far. Even on a familiar street, there’s something overhead, a bird on a wire, an interesting rooftop, or the moon showing up before the day is done.
Find a safe place to stop, lift your eyes, and take a moment to look around.
At Canadian Threads, we celebrate these ordinary outdoor moments. A familiar route can still offer something new when we take the time to notice.
What have you spotted lately simply because you looked up?
Look Up Once in a While
