Walking with Thich Nhat Hanh

“Live the actual moment, only this moment is life…”

Aran and I went for a walk this weekend and we stumbled upon a path on the side of a back road that led to a small tree. Underneath the tree’s canopy sat two painted porcelain dolls perched in front of a rock painted like a house. Beside the rock house was a cookie tin with a note saying hello, asking people to leave a message. Inside were notes from other people, blank sheets of paper, and a pencil. The whole thing was absolutely adorable. “Omg, I have to leave a note!” I said to Aran.

The first thing that came to mind was a quote from Thich Nhat Hanh: “Drink your tea slowly and reverently, as if it is the axis on which the world revolves – slowly, evenly, without rushing toward the future. Live the actual moment. Only this moment is life.”

I wrote this quote down, and left it in the tin with the others. It all felt quite magical. We continued on our walk, and I felt giddy. I kept singing his name, “Thich Nhat Hanh”, “Thich Nhat Hanh” I ran, and jumped, and played, and ‘parkoured’ and laughed so hard I cried. I wasn’t sure if it was the little reminder of the quote to be present, or the fresh air and amazing views, but I felt light, joyous, and alive. 

A leaf isn’t just a leaf…

We continued back to the car through a wooded area that was completely sheltered from the wind. I noticed a single leaf elegantly lift up off the ground in front of me, do a twirl, and gently float back down to the ground. I didn’t say anything, I just noticed. Less than a minute later, a group of leaves swirled up and danced off the ground in front of us, before they floated back down to the ground. This time we both looked at each other. We both felt… something.

Aran mentioned then, that he had seen a single leaf do the same dance only moments ago – the one I didn’t think he noticed. It’s difficult to explain the energy that hung in the air – it gave me goosebumps in the best possible way, and we were both feeling the same thing. Any words I use to describe it won’t work. 

“I will be a Flower or a Leaf…” – Thich Nhat Hanh

Later that evening I opened instagram and the first thing I saw was that Thich Nhat Hanh had died. The first quote that came up was set on a background of leaves “Tomorrow, I will continue to be. But you will have to be very attentive to see me. I will be a flower, or a leaf. I will be in these forms and I will say hello to you. If you are attentive enough, you will recognize me, and you may greet me. I will be very happy.”

I called Aran into the room as tears of awe streamed down my face.

You can brush these moments off as if they are nothing – simple coincidences- or you can recognize them for what they truly are and be amazed. If you can be open to what seems incomprehensible and impossible, our existence becomes magical, and you realise not only the beauty in life, but also in death.

Take what you will from this little story; it might not mean much to you, or maybe it will speak to something inside of you. And just maybe, next time you’re out for a walk, you’ll notice the leaves, and feel something…more.