Zen Foxes | The Art of Mindful Living


Zen fox fine art photography by Roeselien Raimond
Zen Fox

Zen Foxes master the art of being fully ‘in the moment’, as if they invented mindfulness themselves. No need for yoga classes or meditation courses, since relaxing is their second nature. They don’t spend hours thinking how to live a fulfilling live, they rather spend their time just living it. They smell the fresh air, feel the warmth of the sun on their fur, close their eyes and then it’s a matter of just being there. Simple as that.The trouble is; there’s a contradiction going on when it comes to capturing Zen Foxes: the harder you try, the more you’ll move away from your goal. If you are too eager, an animal will sense that eagerness and will stay alert. They know you want something from them, which makes you a potential danger.

A red fox with eyes closed, sitting peacefully with a serene smile
Happy Fox

But if you manage to take things as they come, by just enjoying the beautiful nature around you, who know what might happen. And if nothing happens? Well at least you had a good day. As Mick Jagger sings so beautifully: You can’t always get what you want, but you might find you get what you need.

I’ve always been a bit of a thrill seeker. That’s why I bought a camera, to add some extra adventure to my walks. Through the years, I learned that an overly fanatical attitude can kill your pleasure. So, I guess I learned to do as foxes do, just being there and see what might happen. And in the mean time, I just enjoy smelling some fresh air and feeling the sun on my skin.