Appreciate the Little Things

Hi Compassionates. I hope you’re managing to get out and enjoy the sights and sounds of nature as we have transitioned from summer to Autumn, as our little planet tilts away from the sun, and days begin to shorten, nights lengthen, and temperatures dip.  A fresh, crisp air has enveloped the planet, well the northern hemisphere anyway, making time outdoors more invigorating, refreshing the senses.

I have to admit I am feeling wistful already for all things great and small, as growth slows and wildlife prepares to retire. I have especially relished some wonderful mindfulness through the warmer months, reaping the benefits for health and well-being.  Amongst my favourite moments were definitely watching the bats in the garden at dusk, performing amazing acrobatics whilst feasting on insects, and fattening for the winter months. And also bug hunting with the children at forest school, and on occasions alone, putting my new macro lens to the test, a small detachable lens that slips over the camera of your smartphone/tablet, that helps you to take close up shots.

The lens kit is a grand total of £16.00, and encourages creativity. It comes with 10 different lenses with varying effects, such as fisheye eye, star filter, and kaleidoscope.  I think this is a great tool for children,  especially those that enjoy taking photos. For me it has definitely whet my appetite for macro photography, increasing my appreciation for the finer details of the small things.  It’s incredible to see the anatomy of a bug in all it’s glory, the bright colours, patterns, delicate appendages, wings, and antennae.  It’s all too often we miss the small things, due to being distracted by the mind, and noticing the finer detail, in my experience, can really inspire greater curiosity, awe and wonder. Even the humble fly has gone up in my opinion, warranting the opening of windows to set them free, before they buzz themselves into a stupor.  But my favourite invertebrate has to be the ladybird larvae this year, resembling a little alligator…. awwww, It’s so incredibly endearing,  I don’t have a picture to show you, so you will have to Google it, but it’s so cool the transformation it undergoes.

Ladybirds are a particular favourite at forest school, and this year there have been no shortage of them in the London urban garden, but sadly that might not always be the case, as Insect biodiversity is under threat, with a third of insects being at risk of extinction. Insects and bugs are the bedrock of any ecosystem and crucial to the integrity of our planet, so having this in mind when you look for one, and spot one makes it all the more meaningful.  But bypassing logic, the children’s smiles say it all. 🙂

I’ll leave you with a few pics taken with the macro lens, to help inspire some of your own nature photography and bug hunting.  I hope you too will enjoy spotting and admiring the little things that run our planet, and will take a compassionate pledge to help wildlife too.

Little Miss Compassion x