Glide through the darkness

A very good friend passed on this advice to me recently – from an owl, I think it’s good advice but am I equipped to be able to imitate this silent traveller of the night. When we wonder how to cope with a new situation, when our environment changes perhaps we should look to nature more often to see what adaptations we may want to try.

Darkness to most of us is scary, we don’t see well without the light of the sun or a lamp to illuminate our path, but the owl flies and hunts with only the far light of the stars and perhaps the moon on a clear night. How does he manage to avoid the obstacles in his way and find his target? Why doesn’t he hide and sleep when the sun goes down? Because he is equipped to travel in the darkness, he has large eyes, amazing hearing and flight quieten by feathers so soft they don’t make a single sound as they sweep through the air.

So, what do I need to do to be like the owl? I must open my eyes wide enough so even the faintest glimmer of light can help me find my way, I need to be quiet, so I can listen for the smallest of sounds that will show me where I need to go and finally, I need to trust these abilities so I can stop clinging to the branch I have found myself on, let go and glide through the darkness. I must open my wings and let the push of air against my feathers drive me forwards, onwards, calmly and with little effort.

I can adapt to take advantage of the darkness, will it make my journey easier, I think it will, will it make me better at understanding the world around me?  I think it will. My mom always said to me “good, better, best, never be at rest until your good is better and your better best”. I will take the advice from my friend, learn from the owl and listen to my mom, I will endeavour to be the best I can be and make the best of any place I find myself in, I will glide through the darkness.

Thank you Joanne for your words of wisdom.