At some time or another, I think everyone has wondered what it would be like to fly…to soar above our world and look down upon the chaos below with detachment. Our natural senses are exhilarated and overwhelmed as we glide on the breeze, stretching out for our destination horizon.
The pure pursuit of freedom on the winds.
Perhaps an experience akin to Jonathan Livingston Seagull… and, as with Jonathan and the world in general, there would be avian politics to contend with, pressures of life perhaps no different from what we experience daily, and hardships that create life’s challenges.
But just to be able to soar, to get a taste of that purity…I like the thought.
Our natural senses exhilarated and overwhelmed…a bit like a good dose of the spirit of the holiday season. Remove the commercialism, the rush of shopping, and the mass of people, and what remains is a community of people in a great state of happiness and joy.
People feel better about life, about others. There are sincere displays of gratitude and, perhaps most importantly, compassion. The holiday season, whether Christmas, Diwali, Kwanzaa, or another, each contains the key component that makes a holiday special: compassion.
Compassion can touch another soul like nothing else; it can be the greatest gift of all. Malcolm Greenhill wrote a poignant post on his blog (Malcolm’s Corner)about this the other day, about how a small gesture of compassion from one person can impact another significantly.
A simple and powerful gift is compassion. It’s easier to give at this time of year because of our spirit, yet to make it a habit and show compassion throughout the year, and it becomes easy to imagine that we will all be flying as high as these eagles.
I wish to be more compassionate moving forward. I have been touched by others, likely without their knowing the impact of their kindness. How wonderful it would be for me to do the same for others, consistently, throughout the year.
Merry Christmas everyone.
Note: these photos were taken in a small coastal fishing town (pop. 6,200) of Rausu, the most northeasterly town in Japan, and gateway to the Shiretoko Peninsula. During the winter season, pack ice, which drifts down from the Sea of Okhotsk becomes the home to Steller’s Sea Eagles and White-tailed Sea Eagles who hunt for fish and put on a show.
Some of the best Japanese food I have ever tasted, fresh and crisp, and every night ends with a bit of sake and settling into one of the many natural hot springs in the area. Hokkaido is definitely a winter wonderland.
Related articles
- As Cold As Ice by Harry Eggens (wallpaprs.wordpress.com)
- Hokkaido and Okinawa (ayakakamei.wordpress.com)
- Hokkaido, Japan (youcanfindsandra.wordpress.com)
Global Sojourns: Photography & Philosophy 
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