For over a year now, I’ve been sharing my breakfast with a few amazing companions.

Crows.

Every morning, they arrive at my balcony for their share… and this little routine has become one of my favourite parts of the day.

What surprises me most is how disciplined they are. There’s no noisy clamouring for food. No fighting to get ahead of one another. They wait patiently, one by one, for their turn… making those 20 to 30 minutes remarkably calm. In fact, watching how unhurried they are has taught me a thing or two about patience.

And after spending so much time with them, I’ve also realised that each one has a very distinct personality. They have their own little quirks and ways of behaving… so much so that I’ve even given them names. And of course, I have my favourites!

It’s actually surreal to have wild birds trust you enough to come that close… and take food straight from your hand.

Over time, I realised that this little morning ritual was doing something else for me too. For those few minutes, I’m away from my phone. No emails. No messages. No notifications. No checking what’s happened while I was asleep or thinking about what needs to happen next.

It’s a pause before the day begins… time to slow down, to think, to reflect… and sometimes, to think about nothing at all.

And I’ve noticed that I begin my day differently because of it. A little calmer. A little more centred. With a more positive mindset and better energy for whatever the day brings.

I’ve also come to believe that when we open ourselves to nature, the universe begins to talk to us. Perhaps it’s always been talking to us… just that we’ve become too distracted to listen.

By the way, connecting with nature doesn’t always require a trek into the mountains or a weekend away from the city. Sometimes, nature comes looking for you… and lands right outside your window.

I started sharing my breakfast with the crows… but along the way, they started giving me something in return.

A quieter mind. A little perspective. And a better way to begin my day.

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