When I walk, I take my time. I call it a “walk of appreciation.” I think, what you and your commenters ar describing are facets of what Howard Gardner woud describe as “naturalistic intelligence.”

Sidney Poitier speaks about how his appreciation for his environment influenced the person that he became:

“By the time I reached Miami, Florida, at fifteen, entering the world asa immigrant teenager, I was still a kid and I was still thinking like a kid, but I had something inside that was looking out for me. I had an inner eye that watched the terrain and watched the circumstances, especially when I was in hostile territory. This ws my education, my Cat Island curriculum.”

“This watchful way extended to human nature-words, motivations, actions and consequences. The quiet and simple atmosphere of my childhood enabled me to focus down to the level of the subtle body language that came at me from my parents and siblings. On that tiny island I had gotten to know these signals really well. I had learned to read them just as I had learned to read the cliffs and the tides.

I find this afascinating topic. You can read more of my appreciation of Sidney Poitier here:
http://tuneupyoureq.com/2007/07/11/sidney-poitiers-7-eq-lessons-part-2/
and there are some links to the rest of the article series at the foot of that article.
http://tuneupyoureq.com/2007/07/11/sidney-poitiers-7-eq-lessons-part-2/

Thanks for the reminder.

When we remove the noise from our life - we become aware of the diversity of life that surrounds us - and our connection with the universal intelligence that keeps the balance. It is that awareness the helps me keep perspective in my life, to realize that the normal ups and downs are pretty insignificant in the big picture.

I think this is the true meaning when the Buddha said: “I am awake.”

Bruce