The Wonders of Nature (and a Reminder to Take Breaks)

One of the joys of working from home here in Walton, Waikato is that my “office view” is a little different from most. I’ve retrofitted floor-to-ceiling windows on the back of our shed so I can look out over the countryside and our mature garden while I work.

At this time of year, our 100-year-old kōwhai tree is ablaze with yellow flowers. Usually, we’re lucky to see one or two tūī feeding there. But today, something extraordinary happened — a dozen tūī arrived at once, filling the air with their incredible chorus (they have multiple voice boxes, so it’s a beautiful cacophony!). They stirred me from my work they made so much noise, so I popped out to enjoy them.

But that wasn’t all – for the very first time in my life, a native kākā — a large New Zealand parrot — swooped into our garden. I’ve seen them before in the wild plenty of times, but never in my backyard. Truly amazing.

I was fortunate to have my camera gear on hand, but more than that, I was reminded how important it is to pause. After hours at my desk, standing up and stepping outside wasn’t just refreshing — it was restorative. Thanks for making so much noise Tui!

Breaks aren’t wasted time. Done well, they reconnect us, recharge us, and sometimes reward us with rare wonders. Don’t forget we work to live, not live to work.