Walking through Central Park one morning, I noticed a bird’s nest overhead, in the bare branches of one of the trees along the way. During the months when the trees fill out with their leaves, the nests are hidden, unnoticed in the high branches.

Having the nests hidden offers protection and privacy to young birds, and this got me to thinking about the many “hidden” sources of protection and support we have around us all the time. For example, I began to think about the people who stock store shelves during the night so the stores are ready for customers the next morning, the people who work in the post office sorting mail behind the scenes, employees who keep electricity and water running – people we generally will never see, but on whom we depend a great deal. Then, there are police officers and fire fighters, emergency room doctors and others whom we might see from time to time, but who also work behind the scenes.

I also brought to mind the many employees and volunteers who work in Central Park in the early morning to clean it up for visitors who will come later in the day. They are hidden from most people who come to the park and yet their efforts create a quality of experience enjoyed by everyone. Those of us who go through the park in those early-morning hours have an opportunity to thank these folks directly, and it’s a true pleasure to be able to do so.

For this week’s experiment, I invite you to pay attention to the hidden sources of support and protection in your life. They may reveal themselves when you turn on the faucet and take a moment to appreciate that running water is available, or when you turn on a light and have electricity. They may come to mind when you throw out your trash and recall that someone picks it up and carts it away, and then someone else manages the landfill where it may finally end up being stored.

The possibilities of awareness of hidden resources are endless, so have fun with this experiment. And, as you bring these sources of support to mind, enjoy the experience of actively engaging in gratitude for the people who take on these activities on behalf of everyone else. In fact, notice how it feels to actively and consciously acknowledge these people, even if you can’t offer your gratitude to them directly. What’s it like to move through a day aware of the constant support that surrounds you?

As with all experiments, bring curiosity along as your companion, and allow it to expand your awareness of sources of support around you.