# data[].attributes.body
Staring at the sturdy tree all I could hear was the rustling of the leaves as they brushed against each other with the cool breeze of the wind, even as when the wind grew stronger I could hear the change of the leaves as they rustled together even louder and some falling off the branch, which reminded me of the Dadirri video where it displays the deep inner listening and quiet still awareness, where it connects us and nurtures our spiritual well-being. To have deep listening we have to be patient, focused and quiet to have our attention on something where we can only listen to that specific thing.

Listening carefully there was the faint chirping of the birds, some being from another tree and some right in my view and from a distance, I could hear cars driving by. To my right, I heard my clanking and it was my brother fixing he's car. Even as the wind grew stronger the birds would chirp even louder and some flew away but with the weather changing the sound was still familiar. It reminded me of the Ted Talk, “Music as a Language”, by Victor Wooten where he justifies that music is a language and a lifestyle, where we can connect and allow our freedom to find its own voice. Where the sound of the nature around me was another language for me it was familiar but it could be understood, or interpreted in different ways by many people.

With just listening to the world around me and the environment it had me curious about the sounds I heard, some being familiar and some new. As a pre-service educator, I aim to set a practice where it can foster children to explore out into the natural world where they listen around them, to be curious about what they can hear. Where music isn’t just a subject you learn but it’s a language where it can allow the freedom for children to find their voice and to say what they’re feeling.

# data[].attributes.body
Sitting at the front porch of my house I looked up at the sky and all I could see were white clouds building up in the sky as if I couldn’t see any blue, slowly my eyes were focused on them and I could see them gradually shifting to the right, making me wonder so many questions like how long does it take for one cloud to move? How many clouds are up in the sky? Looking directly in my point of view I could see a big sturdy tree with weak branches that looked like it was about to snap off, with the cool breeze of the wind I could feel it under my hair giving me goosebumps, as I could see a swaying motion of the tree branches and the leaves and they brushed against each other.

Just then a sudden movement in the leaves during this peaceful and calming setting caught my attention, at first, I thought maybe I was just hearing things but then it showed itself revealing it was a bird, looking closer it seemed to look like a rainbow lorikeet. Standing afar to have a wider view I could see a flock of them resting on the branches of the trees. As some of them flew away I could see the movement in their wings and body, just observing the colour of them and their direction as they flew so fast, it left me amazed and admired.

As I walked back inside my house it made me admire the world we live in, just the watching the sky, trees, leaves and the birds it made me feel at ease and calm, where I didn’t feel bothered.

Looking back on the ‘Common Worlds Research Collective’ it acknowledges the place of the natural worlds and children’s place in relation to their sense of belongingness. As a pre-service educator, I would encourage children to explore, discover, touch, watch and feel unexpected moments where they’re inspired to think beyond and consider questions. Where they can learn within the natural world and its environment that way they can feel comfortable with the place and have a greater understanding of the world around them.

# data[].attributes.body
With all these movements and sounds it made me admire the environment we live in, with so much to see and hear with the natural world I continued to take one last look around me as I listened to the wind growing stronger, there’s just so much to see and hear. Just the movement of the tree branches and the leaves brushing together was a familiar sound, but yet it was so relaxing and calming, even listening to the different chirps as the birds were responding to each other and in the distance, hearing cars driving by as they zoomed. There were so many questions as I just listened, what were the birds chirping about? How fast are the cars going? Where are they headed to? Considering all of the movement and sounds that I have encountered and experienced, it has helped me reflect on how I could incorporate certain practices into my own professional practice as an early childhood educator, I hope to foster children the opportunity to relax, observe and take in the beauty of nature where they can have a day to explore and be curious about the world and interact with others, building on relationships.

# data[].attributes.body
Children’s Relations with Pace 2015, Common Worlds Research Collective, viewed 6 May 2020, <http://commonworlds.net/childrens-relations-with-place/>

DADIRRI (Official Miriam-Rose Ungunmerr Video) :: 3 minute promo 2017, YouTube, viewed 6 May 2020, <https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tow2tR_ezL8&feature=emb_logo>

Music as a Language: Victor Wooten at TEDxGabriolaIsland 2013, YouTube, viewed 6 May 2020, <https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2zvjW9arAZ0&feature=emb_logo>