Unpopular opinion: I love pigeons.

Like many people today, I find my “nine to five” office work soul-sucking. I’ve spent my entire adult life questioning why I am alive and what the “point” of any of it is. For a long time, I could only find tiny moments of peace whenever I took a minute to observe a plant or an animal.

I love pigeons because they are everywhere. Even in the middle of a concrete city, I can forget myself for a moment by spying on a pigeon. Pigeons were the beginning of my great love for common, everyday wildlife.

A few years ago, someone I love gifted me a pair of binoculars and a bird-identification guide. With these two tools, I discovered how much life is going on all around us, with most of us too stressed to see it.

The slow, simple joy of exploring the natural world - one bird, bug, and flower at a time - sparked an ember in my emaciated soul. My creative flame reignited for the first time since childhood. Now, I use my art and photography to celebrate this beautiful world we live in. They are my escape from depression and fear.

Thank you for letting me share them with you.