Winged to Fly

May, 2007

Dear Friend,

“When once you have tasted flight, you will forever walk the earth with your eyes turned skyward, for there you have been and there you will always long to return.” Leonardo Da Vinci.
When I read these words, I am reminded of a recent encounter my husband, Don had with a Black Capped Chickadee.

On a wintry, windy March day with white-out periods of lake effect snow falling, Don ventured out into the elements to remove accumulated snow from the walk ways. When he finished, he went inside the garage and discovered a small black capped chickadee flapping and flailing about. The little bird was throwing itself against a glass windowpane trying to escape the confines of the garage. The two large garage doors and a small door were quickly opened wide to serve as escape routes. But the tired bird just kept trying to fly through the closed window. Finally, Don slowly approached the frightened chickadee. As he did, the bird became very still and quiet. Gently, the tiny bird was lifted up with gloved hands, carried out to an open area and released up towards the sky. Don watched as the small bird spread it wings and began to fly aloft. What a wonderful happening to bring forth and witness!

After Don shared this Black Capped Chickadee story with me, I began to consider how sometimes – when our creative freedom is threatened – we behave just like that tiny chickadee. A seemingly safe haven has inexplicably morphed into a snare. Or, an apparent success has transformed into something far less. We instinctively know what we are doing is not working because we are not finding freedom. However, instead of looking for a different solution, we act like that little chickadee. We flap and flail about fixating on the failed way out - because we are afraid.

When we find our self paralyzed by fear, frustration, and failure, our innate creativity is ready to rescue us – if we are willing to change our focus. In the calm and quiet of our own thought, our inner artist will help us regain the freedom to fly - if we are ready to accept help. Our wisdom within knows how to maneuver us through the confusion and panic. But we have to stop flailing and flapping about so we can hear the whispering voice within. When become still, quiet, and attentive, we are lifted up - away from fixation on destructive thoughts and failed efforts. We perceive things differently as we focus on constructive ideas. When we trust our innate creativity to guide us, we greet each circumstance ripe for progress. Ready to fearlessly embrace it as a happening-now, doing-discovery adventure. We are indeed winged to fly. Today is the day for us to do some small - or not so small - bit of our own creative something!

All best – always,
pam

“You have only your own pair of wings and the pathless sky. Bird, Oh my bird, listen to me. Do not fold your wings.” John M. Tutt

In Sight: As Doing-it-now Creatives, we never really lose our freedom to fly above and beyond destructive mistakes, failures, and nay sayers. Each lesson-learned grows our creative wings wider and stronger. We take each lesson-learned forward with us as we re-focus our now thought and action on the affirming and constructive. This is how we keep on, keeping on with our Doing-it-now Creativity.

"Winged to Fly"
Watercolor on Paper
by Pamela Walker Hart

View my online Art Portfolios at
http://www.pwalkerhart.com/


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(c) Copyright 2007 Pamela Walker Hart.
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