The dragonflies dart in front of me. They are large and swift, but are careful not to be a nuisance. They rise and fall as they flutter through the air, searching for a perch in which to look for prey.
A shimmering copper-colored dragonfly flies horizontally toward me before swiftly shifting to the right, away from me and then back again. He paused momentarily on the tips of several plants at Toadstool Geologic Park, never resting for more than a second or two before moving on.
I followed him through the lens of my Nikon D7000 as he darted and hovered in the air. I focused on the dragonfly and ignored everything else around me.
My day out in nature was a needed distraction from everyday life. The previous two weeks were filled with a variety of things that bothered me more than I like to admit and I had to get away from modern life before the things in my head pulled me down more than they already had.
I spend a lot of time each day reading the news. I like to be informed about what is happening in the world, but I’m not always aware when an article will trigger me or send me on a slow ride toward disaster.
I’m also working on recognizing when things are too much so I can stop and avoid certain topics before it’s too late. It is extremely frustrating when something as simple as reading the news can have such a detrimental effect on a person. I try to be mindful of when the news is too much for me, but I have yet to master that task.
I followed the dragonfly as it lifted itself above me until I lost it in the bright, blue sky. I put my camera down and tried to track it again with my eyes, but it had already disappeared from sight. I was standing near the edge of a 5-foot drop off the trail. My myopic focus prevented me from heeding the usual visual warnings of where I should walk because I only saw the dragonfly.
Like the fast, agile dragonfly, I spent the past 10 days reading a large volume of stories about the convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein. He is in the news again. There are more charges, more stories, more children he is accused of trafficking.
My imprudent focus on articles about Epstein were the majority of what I read for nearly two weeks. I didn’t see the cliff coming toward me. I didn’t heed the warning signs – insomnia, flashbacks, and an inability to focus on anything else – until it was too late. I was already falling off the cliff when I realized I had gone too far.
The dragonfly’s wings remain horizontal to its body as it hurls its heavy body toward the top of a dried out flower. This golden-colored dragonfly takes an extended break to rest its body of chitinous exoskeleton of hard plates. It is the perfect opportunity for a perfect picture. I see only the dragonfly. I am unaware of any potential dangers.
He looks around, searching for water or prey. The area is ripe with food. Insects, from mosquitoes to bees to flies, are plentiful here. The dragonfly does not need to worry about food. It is everywhere.
Knowledge is food for the human soul. Reading is a way to increase your knowledge. News articles can enhance the knowledge you already have and provide new information. For people like me, the news can sometimes become overwhelming, particularly when looking for the complete story.
I do not read just one story on a topic. By reading many sources, I learn different angles from different media outlets to gather a better understanding of a topic. This can become detrimental when it is a triggering topic. I am still learning what my limits are and I still do not see the warning signs of danger with each progressive story.
The dragonfly can propel itself upward, downward, forward, backward, left and right. I follow the dragonfly as it moves each way. He finally comes to rest at the edge of a 60-foot drop. I carefully walk toward the dragonfly, squatting down to be on his level. I press the shutter again and again. Shutter priority isn’t working well, so I shift to aperture priority. The pictures are crisp and clear.
As I begin to fall off the news cliff, I have not been mindful of the world around me. In nature, one must always be aware of the dangers. There are cliffs, snakes, large predators, and other dangers to be aware of as I walk in the beauty of the wild.
Dragonflies are considered one of the insect world’s most efficient hunters. It catches nearly 95 percent of its prey. Their acute eyesight and agile flight aid them in being a nearly perfect hunter. There is no danger to me following, watching, or photographing the insect. I only need to be mindful of the cliff while chasing dragonflies.
Words, however, have a way of touching me deep inside my soul. They are powerful and lure a reader into a story. When combined correctly, they create a desire to learn more. Words often lead me to cliffs I never see until I am tumbling over them. I have spent the last two weeks falling in slow motion. I never saw the peril. Someone else had to point it out to me.
I’m still learning where my limits are, what my triggers are, and how to keep from falling before it’s too late. This time, I was not mindful of the cliff. I fell, but not too far. Hopefully, next time, I will be more mindful of the cliff when chasing the dazzling dragonfly.
Dalene
Excellent words Irene