I was staying at one of my Business Schools recently so after dinner I decided to go for a stroll in the grounds to stretch my legs, clear my mind and relax from a busy day.
I was pleased I did. As I strolled along at a fair old pace in the chill of the evening air, I was struck by the silence, the stillness, the serenity of the moment. So I stopped to listen and look. This picture is what I captured as I turned towards the building – just wonderful. It reminded me of the magic of learning, investing in myself and taking a little time out of a busy schedule to reflect.
The silence was soon broken by a distant owl calling in the night. I am no owl expert so I have no idea what type it was – for me, at that moment, it did not matter. It was so perfect hearing the calls from nature. I am sure for any potential prey on the ground the sound of the owl was enough to cause concern, without too much interest in which type of bird was so uncomfortably close. And one that was probably still checking to see what was on the evening menu.
As the dark nights draw in, it is so easy to forget the wonders of the evening when the warmth of all that is comforting inside calls us. It is also quite interesting seeing the reaction of others when we say we are off for a good walk…at night. On this evening there was a welcome in the bar and it would have been all too easy to remain indoors.
The beauty about where I was is that the School is set in the clearing of a forest so there are trees all around. There is also no light to destroy the night sky once away from the front of the building. This evening it was clear, the stars clearly visible and the moon in full glory.
I have written elsewhere about the Lunar Society and the esteemed people who met so many years ago, on the night of a full moon, only so they had more light to travel by. There were no streetlights back in those days. There are no street lights here.
I have lived in the country for a major part of my life so am all too familiar with darkness on my travels, once the sun has said farewell for the day. In the autumn and winter this darkness seems so much more enveloping, add in the cold and we hunch our shoulders and close ourselves up. On this evening I kept my shoulder back, head held high and enjoyed the night sky. I returned after about an hour, rather muddy, having placed an unexpected credit in my memory bank. I also felt much more ‘present’ for the people I was seeing.
Whilst I have no wish to turn into a night owl, our feathered friends do get their wisdom from somewhere. Perhaps a few more walks in the evening might be a good idea – how about you?
And the bar was still open when I eventually returned from my walk!
My best wishes,
Peter
