Plant nurseries are my peaceful escape. The mingling scents of earth and green offer a comforting touch of nature.
During my recent visit to one, on the hunt for some succulents, I spotted a beautiful and healthy-looking jade plant. To be sure, I asked the staff for help with my decision.
They led me towards a cozy greenhouse, dotted with some stunning plants. Making my way through them, I spotted some jade plants in a corner, but they looked withered and dried.
Without hesitation, I decided to stick to the one I saw earlier. As I was leaving the greenhouse, a breathtaking sight filled me with joy.
A baby hummingbird, probably a few weeks old, was fluttering its newly formed wings, trying to get the hang of flying. At first, I almost mistook it for a butterfly, as it was constantly flapping its wings. I resisted getting close, not wanting to scare it away. But watching it hover over flowers, fetching food on its own, warmed my heart. I simply couldn’t get over admiring this tiny creature learning how to fly and fend for itself.
Birds take time to learn how to fly. It requires practice and guidance from their instincts. They stumble and fall along the way before it becomes natural for them.
For some birds though leaving the nest before they can learn to fly is a survival strategy from predators.
The sight of this little bird’s journey nudged me to reflect on why I had second-guessed my instincts. I should have simply picked up the first plant and made my exit.
Why did I need to look for more, when what I wanted was right in front of me? In the endless pursuit for more, we often lose sight of what’s in the present. Perhaps the baby bird held a lesson for me. There is so much beauty in simply trusting yourself and not seek external validation.
Just as fledglings must learn to spread their wings and take the leap into flight, we must learn to spread our metaphorical wings on the journey to self-discovery.
Our learning too will involve practice and trials, as well as learning from instincts.Sometimes we need to leap out of our comfort zones, even when feeling unprepared.
It's about self-trust and finding the inner strength to move forward.