Mindful Miles

On a simple walk with my daughters today, we witnessed a scene that stopped us right in our tracks and brought the biggest, quietest smile to my face. There, side-by-side on the pavement, were a hawk and a pigeon.

Not flying above, not locked in a chase, but walking along together, almost like two neighbours sharing the sidewalk. My youngest daughter, her eyes wide with a beautiful blend of curiosity and wonder, turned to me and asked the inevitable question: “Mum, shouldn’t they be scared of each other?”

It was a brilliant question. Instinct and nature tell us the hawk is the predator, the pigeon is the prey. They are supposed to be worlds apart, defined by their differences. Yet, seeing them share the same path, calmly moving forward, felt like watching a tiny, spontaneous miracle unfold right there on our street.

This observation became the heartwarming lesson of our Mindful Mile.

That hawk and pigeon showed us the true gift of Finding Common Ground: They chose to focus on the current path they shared, ignoring the history or the instinct that might define them as conflict.

As the festive lights begin to glow and the traditional message of Peace on Earth is all around us, this image is the perfect reminder that harmony can bloom in the most unexpected places. This season encourages us to look past our differences. The magic is in realizing that we can choose connection over conflict, focusing on our shared humanity instead of what divides us.

Let’s carry the image of the hawk and the pigeon with us this week. When you encounter moments of stress or difference, remember the Peace on the Pavement: Choose to focus on the shared path and allow the beautiful possibility of harmony to define your steps. May this image bring you affirmation that connection is always possible, even in the midst of life’s many differences.