Migration

The swans are back. My baby cygnets grown since my last visit. They float aimlessly past my window coming by for breakfast and dinner every day. In the water, they glide effortlessly as they were meant to. Their beauty, grace, and splendor enhanced by their elegant gliding. It is where they belong.

Sometimes though, like a fish out of water, they take to the air. The effort required is obvious in the frantic flapping of their seemingly cumbersome wings, feet dragging through the bay as they lean in casually looking for momentum.  While it seems they are sure of their place in this world, content to float, sometimes they must fly. How difficult is it to be something you are not? How much effort is required to step out of your comfort zone? Do we sometimes need to fly in order to be able to float?

Migration requires nothing more than beginning the journey. It is ingrained in their psyche, it is just what needs to be done. Not a choice, but a requirement. I recently read that it is possible that certain people have a genetic predisposition to wanderlust based on the migratory habits of long ago ancestors. What of the effort? What of the fear? Could they have chosen to continue floating?

Life is complicated, much by our own choices. Yes, it could be as simple as we make it. Or we can choose to cope with the complications in a way that allows us to not be caught in the drama. We don’t need to frantically flap our wings when we can float, but are we then denying ourselves a chance to learn something new, to look at things from a different perspective? Have we passed up a chance at growing, learning--living?

Freedom of choice is a gift that humans have been granted although at times it may seem like a curse. If life was easy, our choices a sure thing, would we appreciate our experiences as much? Would we live fully or simply exist, floating on our own little pool of water?

Knowing where we belong can be a good thing, but sometimes, like the Swans, there may be more than one place we can float. Effort, strength, discomfort- may all be part of the journey-or not. It may even make others question why you just don’t float where you are, but when it is inside you, a part of your very being, you know you must take to the air to find your way back to where you belong.  

  

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