The other morning, I was sitting in our backyard surveying the spring garden, or as Tim McGraw once said, I was “watching my corn pop up in rows.” But something struck me as odd. It was quiet (and not just because the girls were still asleep . . .). A strange silence. Usually you can hear the dull roar of I-75 in the background and cars whipping down the street in front of our house. You couldn’t hear any of that. No garbage trucks, no sounds of airplanes in the air, just silence. It was marvelous. And then I realized that it wasn’t completely silent. As I sat and stared up at the trees, the sound of calling birds became the dominant sound. Cardinals, blue jays, sparrows, tufted titmouses, a brown thrasher, and birds I can’t even identify were hopping, flying, and fluttering from tree to tree. And each one was starting the morning with its own unique sound. It became a little outdoor concert, just for me. I tried to repeat one of the calls back to a little guy that was about 20 feet away from me. He seemed to respond, but then I think he realized I was an imposter. And when I concentrated on his call a little more, I heard a repeat of it echo through the trees, farther and farther away. Without the silence, I never would have been able to enjoy those lovely sounds of nature.

While the world is quieter and you are staying at home, I hope you are finding moments to enjoy the time. Whether it is a concert of birds, a flutter of butterflies, or a morning walk through the vegetable garden, make the most of this slightly slower world. I’m hoping that I hold on to some of lessons from this time to slow down and enjoy the moment just a little bit more.

And if you need to celebrate something, this is the week of celebrating the earth. Yesterday was Earth Day, and tomorrow is Arbor Day. So go out and celebrate in your garden and take a moment to enjoy the silence that a slower world brings.