I was walking in the woods the other morning, it was so early that nobody else was around.
Then, I saw a man dressed in camouflage clothing, ducking in and out of the bushes.
He looked highly suspicious, and I have to admit to feeling a bit scared.
He then appeared from nowhere on the road ahead of me.
Spooky.
He had his back to me, and he had what looked like a rifle in his hands.
I had no choice, with nowhere else to go, but to keep walking and pass him by.
As I tentatively did, he heard my footsteps on the gravel, and he turned slowly around.
I saw he was holding a camera with a huge zoom lens attached.
My relief was instant.
He looked at me and smiled, he had a kind face and a warm smile.
I asked him what he was up to and he told me he was looking to photograph an owl which he had seen a few days before.
As I started walking, he walked with me and we chatted.
He told me how he used to photograph military aeroplanes but the lockdowns had put an end to that and so he had taken to photographing wildlife.
He said it had saved his life and kept him sane.
He told me he comes out at sunrise every morning before work, and how much he loves being in nature at that time.
He was so passionate about what he was doing.
He got his phone out and showed me some of the incredible pictures he had taken recently.
As we walked, he pointed out the different bird calls.
I told him I wished I had his knowledge.
He told me he knew nothing about any of it just six months earlier but he had learned by listening and being present.
We came to a crossroads and we took different paths, wishing each other well as we went our separate ways.
Left on my own again, I thought of the brief journey I had just been on.
From thinking the guy was a threat, to discovering he was actually an angel sent to remind me of things.
Not to judge.
To listen more.
And also, to share the things I’m passionate about because passion is so wonderfully contagious.
When did you judge somebody completely wrong?
Here are a few things I felt were worth sharing this week:
The trailer for the film, Wonka, looks amazing. I can’t wait to see the film. It’s out in December 2023 and the film is a prequel to Charlie And The Chocolate Factory, charting the origins of the Willy Wonka character. Directed by Paul King, the character of Willy Wonka is played by Timothy Chalamet.
A great piece on forgiveness and how to cultivate it.
The drawing advice that could change your life.
Artist Sarah Peters overcame her fear of making mistakes by taking on an unusual challenge, and it changed her life.
Thanks for reading!
My new book, B7965 - A boy called Szmulek: A man named Sam, is out NOW! It’s a powerful memoir of my unexpected year-long journey with a Holocaust survivor. I’m super proud of it and very passionate about sharing Sam’s incredible story and getting it out into the world. I truly believe this is a very important story and one that the world needs to hear more than ever right now.
Also, if you like great music, please check out my radio station, The Buzz Mcr. We don’t do ad-breaks, news, weather, and travel. The music never stops. We have a thing called our Three Song Trust Policy, it’s like the old Pepsi challenge only with music. Try us, I think you’ll like us.
With love
Rik
x
I once met a man who was sweeping the tennis courts in a nearby park. We got to talking about my dogs. We got to talking about life, changes, and art. He could tell I was an artist. He could read that I had been going through some major life changes. I feel like this person knew all about me. Tears started welling up in my eyes. I was so moved by our exchange. It was reaffirming. He said to me “it’s good to see the tears”. Then he went back to sweeping the courts.
Lovely storytelling. Good list ... plenty of trails to follow