What I Learned From Watching Baby Birdies

A few weeks ago, I remarked that I’d been feeling better than I had in weeks, maybe even months. Last evening while I was watching the clouds and listening to the rustle of the wind through the trees, I realized that I’ve been feeling even better than that.

As the corners of my mouth involuntarily curled up, my first thought was that I didn’t want to jinx myself! As if putting the idea that I am feeling great out in to the world would signal some shift that would send a piano or an anvil careening down on my good time like in a Roadrunner cartoon. Falling ocean liner be damned, I think I’m going to relish the goodness.

This past weekend I watched two robins take their first flight and leave behind an empty nest outside my front door. They were perched on the edge of their safe haven for the first time and looked as if something big was about to go down. Then without much ado, the first bird was all, “peace out, player” and fluttered away.

But the second bird stayed behind looking tentative. If I could speak birdbrain I think it would’ve said, “duuuuuude, what am I doing? It’s so high! This looks crazy! Why would I leave this awesome nest where mom comes and shoves inchworms in my mouth?!” The scared little bird clung to the woven edge of what had been it’s home for another 10 minutes before finally mustering up the courage to leave.

With a few feather plumping motions and some test flaps, the now brave little bird took the leap of faith and flew away from the nest… directly in to my dining room window. The thud into the glass literally scared the shit out of it as it fell into the mulch below. There it gracelessly flopped around for a few seconds before shaking the hit off. And then as if nothing had happened, the now brave little bird flew away.

Two birds, two different methods, one slight detour, the same end result.

Something about watching the two birds felt monumental. For them, sure – but I mean for me. Maybe my INFP mind put together some type of allegory relating their lives to my own. Sometimes you’re scared to try something but you’ll be rewarded if you just take the leap. Even if you shit your pants.

Fuzzygalore

Rachael is the whimsical writer behind the 20+ year old Girlie Motorcycle Blog. As a freelance blogger, she is on a mission to inspire laughter, self-examination, curiosity, and human connection. Girlie Motorcycle Blog can be found on several Best Motorcycle Blog lists.

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4 Responses

  1. Shybiker says:

    Nature can teach us lessons. Because, as we forget, we’re PART of nature. We’re animals, with unconscious instincts, un-examined behaviors and unknown mental processes.

    As we struggle in the dark, it’s smart to do what feels right. For me (as for you), it’s venturing forth into the scary unknown, casting aside fears, and seeing what’s out there.

  2. David Masse says:

    Thanks Rachael. I went and did that personality test because I thought that I too was a mediator like yourself. Turns out that the test says I’m a logician (INTP-a). I have no clue what the acronyms mean.

    Anyway, I enjoyed that post, thank you.

  3. You have such a great way of writing about you. I love reading your blog and following your adventures. It’s #1 in my daily rotation. 🙂 This was a really interesting post. Two birds, different methods. I have two kids who are very different from each other. It’s an interesting thing to watch.

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