Get outside and breathe in that fresh air. Photo: Shafaq Patel/Axios
👋 Shafaq here! I took a leisurely walk this weekend around Cullinan Park, a beautiful nature preserve in Sugar Land. The crisp weather made it a perfect day to be outside.
At the observation deck overlooking the water, I spotted some birds. I usually take the point-and-appreciate approach, but a couple were close enough for me to try to identify through the Merlin app. To my excitement, it worked.
An older gentleman behind me then struck up a conversation, telling me more about the long-legged limpkin. He then helped me easily identify a common gallinule and an American coot.
The intrigue: I've frequented this park over the years. But a quick conversation with the man, who says he visits routinely, gave me deeper insight.
When I go next with some friends, I can point to the same birds, sharing how I learned about them.
What they're saying: "I'm retired. I'm old and know things from living. But people don't learn these things anymore. People are afraid of nature," he told me.
He went on to tell me about the wild hogs, snakes and alligators in the park, reminding me not to worry and just leave them be.
The bottom line: Conversations beyond a screen can bring unexpected wisdom and delights.
