Take These Broken Wings

Truth be told, I don’t much care for birds. I don’t hate them, I just don’t like them. They’re dirty scavengers and I don’t like that they poop on my car. Does any other animal do that? Not really. It could be worse I guess. Dogs or horses could start doing it.

Anyway, I’m starting to digress. I don’t care for birds, but a bird actually inspired this post.

The other day I was sitting at a stoplight and I see this blackbird. Blackbird singing in the dead of night.

Ok, not really. I just wanted to get the song stuck in your head.

So, I see this blackbird and he’s using the crosswalk to walk across the street. Did you catch that? Walking.

I laughed and thought, “Stupid bird. Why are you walking when you know you can fly?”

Then I stopped laughing and felt something inside ask me: “Why are you walking when you know you can fly?”

Burn.

I feel like I’ve been hearing that my whole life. “You’re so smart, why don’t you apply yourself?” “You’re a good writer, you should write more.” “Why don’t you sing anymore?” “You should audition for this and that.” “You should get a Master’s degree.”

I’m sure I’m not the only one that’s felt this way. You know there’s potential in you, but you refuse to test it. It’s kind of like the dog that doesn’t know he can jump over a fence or doesn’t know he can go inside.

I guess it’s something for me to work on for the rest of this year.

In what ways are you holding back your potential? In what ways are you walking when you know you can fly?