Two Birds- The Wise & The Idiot

After coming home from a workout today, I walked into the house as I usually would. I threw off my shoes, trudged my backpack up the stairs and turned towards the shower when I heard something behind me. Now, we have four pets, so the house is never particularly silent, but this individual sound perplexed me a bit. So, I turned around and at first, I hadn't a clue where it was coming from. Then, a small blur flew past and I realized that the creature that created it was a little bird. How a bird made it into the house, I didn't know- and apparently, neither did he. I watched him hop about my grandma's mounds of craft bins, fly up to the light and even perch on the edge of the television. Clearly looking for an exit, the bird flew throughout the house scaling windows and walls before finally flying back to perch on the ceiling fan.

Then, all of a sudden. two birds soared towards the front windows. How the hell did not only one but two birds find their way into the house without anyone else noticing. The doors were all closed when I got home, I hadn't gone back outside since coming in. Nevertheless, I opened the back door and tried to chase them towards the exit. It didn't work and rather than flying downstairs towards the back door, they flew into my cousins' room, perching on posters, closet door and trying frantically to get away from me and make it outside. I helped out by opening the screened window as far as it could go (about two inches). Fortunately, one of the birds was able to find his freedom through this tiny little opening. The other, however flew about anxiously, avoiding the way out and getting even more and more lost and confused, until I lost sight of him. To be honest, he may still be in the craft room, repeatedly running into screened windows.

Shortly after all of this happened, I realized the analogy present in their bout of "potential peril". In our human lives, we all dream of success, power and in affect, a way out. We all have these desires for more, but rather than taking steps towards the unknown, many of us fly about in circles- missing the obvious "way out". As described by my father "they're like caterpillars, scrambling around with a hundred feet"- even though this bird had wings.. let's just assume it's a mindset metaphor. Beside such unfortunately misguided souls are those that search for real opportunity and practical (though far-fetched) ways out of their current positions. These "birds" are far more able to find their success than their less adept counterparts because they are searching for even the tiniest little risky ways to advance. In the words of my father, these souls "trade in their hundred feet for two wings and soar far above everyone else." This bird shoved his way out of a tiny opening, despite the possibility that I could be a malevolent, dangerous being because it was all that he could do to make it outside.

Take what you will from this little tale. I myself am using it to propel myself towards the unknown- because I find it far more intriguing than being stuck doing the same, unsatisfying, unrewarding thing over and over again.

Trade in your feet for wings, I don't see why you wouldn't.

#birds #metaphor #analogy #life #mature #breakthrough