A few years ago, I went on a tour in Costa Rica in search of a Resplendent Quetzal. These are strikingly colored birds only found in the cloud forests of Central America. They do not survive in captivity and are hard to spot in the dense tree canopies.

After an hour of looking up and only seeing a few toucans (funny how I would delight to see them anywhere else), I sat down and bowed my head to rest my neck. I told the tour guide I would catch up with them in a minute.

I watched as an army of ants crossed the path, each carrying a piece of a leaf four times their size. As the rest of the tour disappeared down the path, the air around me began to fill with butterflies and hummingbirds. Bugs, birds and unidentified critters wandered through in an endless display of life.

No, a resplendent Quetzal did not appear for me. It was a spectacular show nonetheless.

The poet David Wagoner wrote in his poem called Lost, “Stand still…The forst knows where you are. You must let it find you.”

High achievers are fabulous at exceeding expectations, checking off their to-do lists, finding and solving problems and being the hero of the day. We like applause, but we will only take it for a minute and it’s time to get on to the next project. We are not good at standing still.

Do you relate? I have learned that the best opportunities in life have come to me when I quit looking, including my current relationship as well as my best jobs.

Remember, when you are busy keeping yourself busy, you might not see what is looking for you. You may not hear what is calling you. You cannot experience the beauty in the swirl of life that is around you each moment you breathe.

Thank yourself for even taking a moment from your hectic schedule to read this. Now take two minutes to stare out a window or admire something in your room. Can’t take two minutes? Hmmm….

If you did take two, please share what found you in that moment.