It is difficult to explain why watching birds always relaxes me. I can sit sipping a cup of coffee gazing at birds devouring seed in my feeder. Every day I see the same birds. Only occasionally a new species shows up. Despite the seeming sameness, I can easily spend 5, 10 minutes or more absorbed in watching the same old birds.
Why is it such a relaxing activity? I just watch. Maybe it is because I am completely engrossed. Forgetting momentarily about the woes and problems of real life. Not thinking about the daily “must do” list. Just watching. Totally immersed in the moment.
Talking about this with store customers I realized that this is a universal experience. Life is stressful; watching birds is anti-stress. A customer once described it as “like therapy, but cheaper”. I liked that concept.
The next day two women came into the store for the first time. I repeated my customer’s theory. One of the women responded “Could be. But I am a therapist. So don’t spread that thought or you’ll put me out of business”.
Whatever the reason, I still find watching birds to be very relaxing.
birdsoup 
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