A Brief Moment of Zen
I was home and feeling a little stressed…the "too many things to do, not enough time" type of stress. I live in central Montreal, which is quite busy and noisy, and I was thinking that a moment of peace and tranquility, however short, would make me feel better…but where would I find it? After debating for a while whether I should stay home, close all the curtains, and ponder life curled up in a fetal position, or go out and find a quiet spot to think, I figured the latter would be more fun, and decided to ride my bike up to my "Happy Place": Mount Royal Park.
My trip started as always through the obstacle course of holes and orange cones that was once Park Avenue, weaving through traffic and trying to decide which path is less perilous: Squeezing between a bus and the curb, or terrorizing unsuspecting pedestrians by riding on the sidewalk. I decided to do a little of both, and eventually ended up at the statue at the foot of the mountain. I paused to take a breath, and began my ascent.
As I pedaled up the hill, the gravel crunching under the weight of my tires, I felt I had made the right decision. It's unusually surreal, as it's a cool autumn day, and yet all the leaves are still green…almost as if nature is out of sync with itself. I see all the usual sights: The people walking their "accessory" dogs, the joggers jogging on the wrong side, the couples in love…get a room you two! Further up, I see two guys sitting on a bench, smiling like they don't have a care in the world, and I wonder: Why are they smiling? What kind of lives do they have? What secret have they discovered that makes them so content? My questions are answered as I ride by them and get a whiff of what they're smoking…
I finally reach my destination: The top of the hill overlooking Beaver Lake. I park my bike, remove my helmet, and take a seat on the grass. As I catch my breath, I notice that there are not too many people in the park today…good. Now I can find the moment of peace and tranquility I've been looking for.
I look down on the lake, taking in the sun, my mind relaxing as my body does, when suddenly I get the feeling that I'm being watched. I turn to my right, and spot my observer: A seagull, about six feet away from me, perfectly still, and looking at me with his one yellow eye. It's funny how birds look at you: They have to turn and tilt their heads, since their eyes are on either side rather than in front. We stare at each other, and as I admire his simple yet beautiful grey and white plumage, I wonder what's going through his mind. Is he thinking as I am? Is he wondering what this strange creature wants, what's its motivation in life, why is it here? Is he thinking how marvelous and wondrous life and nature are, with all these animals co-existing despite all their differences? Or is he simply waiting for a handout? Before I can get an answer, he turns and flies off down the hill to join his friends. It was only a moment, but for that brief moment, I connected with another creature, the only one I'd connect with on my trip that day. I felt at peace, at one with time and nature. I felt that none of my problems were important, that the only thing that mattered was here and now. It was the brief moment of Zen that was looking for.
And then I remembered that I had to take down the air conditioner from the window in my apartment, and I headed back home.