Decisions, decisions!
- Jean Maher
- Jul 19
- 3 min read
The Sandhill Cranes are scanning their environment and staying close together. They sense that someone is watching, even though I slowly stopped and turned off the car and carefully opened the window. I extended the lens of my camera only slightly beyond the edge of the door, careful to move slowly. The pair paced along just beneath the crest of a hill, the grass an amazing shade of green.
These Sandhill Cranes made this patch of prairie their home this spring and summer. There are plenty of hills to hide behind and space to be alone.
Looking at the prairie now, it's hard to believe the prairie was burned to the ground just a few short months ago. It was a prescribed burn and is a good thing; it rejuvenates the land by clearing away straw and other dried materials from last fall that make it challenging for the plants. Prairie plants have very deep roots, well protected from fire. To look at the prairie now, the grasses and greenery are well over knee high.
I had trouble focusing my lens on their golden eyes, necessary for the best photo. Each photo I took was out of focus. Ugh.
Something was off. I tried focusing a little less tightly to their eyes, instead, focusing more on the grass in front of them. Got it! Suddenly the details of the cranes popped right out of the background. Perfect.
I'm still learning about this camera, and I'm not exactly sure how that worked. It helped that I kept experimenting while they hung out, not moving too far away. Perhaps they had their young (colts) nearby? I had seen them together a month ago.
I had a passing thought - the photo reminded me of watching a puppet show and hearing "It's a Beautiful Day in the Neighborhood" song in my head. You know, you often don't see the entire puppet from head to toe.
They weren't alarmed by me, but looked left and right, swiveling their head with those beautiful golden eyes, back and forth, back and forth, before moving slowly along just below the grassy ridge line.
When I looked at this photo later, to brought something else to mind - how I make (or don't make) a decision. I find there are always options from which to choose. What if I choose wrong? I hate packing for a trip because of the options. I delay doing so until the very last minute, usually sacrificing some sleep in the process. And there's the weather to consider, what I'll be doing, how long I'll be gone. Whew. Or, closer to home, do I have coffee or tea in the morning? When going out for a hike, do I go to a familiar area or a new place? Does anyone else have any advice for me? Overthinking? Me? Yes - quite tiring, actually!
I'm learning to ask myself, does anyone really care what I decide? Of course not. Not really. They are not me. The more I make decisions for myself - that are right for me - I gain a little more confidence. I also remind myself that it is all practice. All of what I do. Treated that way, it takes the pressure off. Especially if I find out later, I might have made a better choice. What's that saying from Thomas Edison? "I've not failed. I've just found 10,000 ways that it won't work." I'm no Thomas Edison, but there is always another opportunity for me to practice making decisions. Keep moving forward and see that when I'm in the flow, decisions DO come easier. :)
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