Feathers and petals !

In the photos below of birds, what stands out are the colours, patterns and orderly arrangements of the feathers on the body. Th colour diversity of contrasting colours or hues of similar colours are seen on the feathers of these birds. Whether it is summer, winter or monsoons season, the birds appear well groomed with an elegance of colours on their feathers. Even after fully drenched in rain, the birds dry and oil their feathers, to be flight ready.  

The photos of petals of flowers below,  similarly express diverse colours, show a pattern of distribution of the petals and give an orderly appearance to the flower. They too are able to withstand the rain, hot and cold seasons. They give away their fragrance and feed insects, bees and butterflies with their nectar. The old flowers fade away and the new ones are regularly formed. The petals express the character of flowers.

What the feathers and flowers share between them is colour, pattern and order. They are characteristics of feathers and flowers. The feathers and petals are external expressions of a bird and a flower. 

It is this thought that led me to ask a question as to what are the external expressions of person!

Manners, conversations, and attitude!

The way I relate to another person, the courtesy I show to let another person enter the lift before me, greet a person whether stranger of familiar, enquire if the staff had their lunch while it was a long and demanding day for them, remember to say 'thank you' by waving, when a stranger stopped to give the right of way in a traffic junction ....these and many ways we express ourselves relationally and reveal the manner, with which we regard and value others. 

The conversations we are part of would be another way we make our self disclosure. If our attempt is keenness to hear and feel, speak only when our turn comes without interrupting a person who is talking, showing interest in what the other person is speaking without jetting in to share a parallels story from our lives, speak in such a way that our words fall gently in the listener's ear, ... these are some ways we communicate how we offer space to others in our thoughts and behaviour. 

Our attitudes are a confluence of our thoughts, understanding and values. Each of us has an inner filter of biases an preferences. The healthy attitudes to life, living and learning would spring from our desire to know from others, understand the environment around us, feel the needs of others genuinely, act mindfully and graciously...these and such behaviour convey our attitudes. To transcend from our pre-set impression or bias because of a past experience is an effortful journey. That alone cleanses our attitudes and make them holistic. 

The birds express themselves with their feathers. The flowers have petals to disclose their nature. The humans through their attitudes make the self disclosure.

I use a personal audit weekly to check on my manners, conversations and attitudes. A practical way I do this is to have a frequency chart of: angry behaviour, discourteous ways, helping attitude, thankfulness and risky behaviour. 

I find myself needing such a close personal observation to live soberly, thoughtfully and considerately! Life becomes fulfilling when there is giving, forgiving and forbearance!

M.C.Mathew(text and photo)