Most Saturday mornings, I go for a walk along the waterfront to clear my head, reflect, and settle into the day. It’s usually a peaceful routine – a time to take in the water, the air, and the quiet rhythm of the morning. But on this particular Saturday, the walk brought a sudden, unexpected lesson in empathy and showing up.
As I was walking, I spotted a cormorant along the shoreline. At first glance, it looked like it was just resting, but as I got closer, I noticed something was wrong. The bird was entangled in heavy monofilament fishing line, bound around its body and leg, clearly struggling and unable to move freely.
In our day-to-day lives, it’s so easy to stay trapped inside our own heads – wrapped up in our own plans, schedules, and self-centered distractions. But standing there looking at this creature in distress, I felt a deep, immediate pull to stop. It was a reminder to step outside of myself, to be fully present, and to recognize that empathy requires us to slow down and care about what is happening right in front of us.
I knew I couldn’t just walk away. I reached out to the SeaWorld Rescue Team, gave them the details and location, and committed to staying nearby to keep an eye on the bird until help could arrive.
What started as a routine morning exercise turned into hours of waiting and tracking – a real exercise in patience that forced me to set aside my own agenda for the day and simply remain present for a creature in need.
