FLYING IS FOREIGN

I have this bird. He was free. Well, not in the sense that he was allowed to fly through the open skies and sleep where he likes. Free, as in, he didn't cost me anything. Well, not that really either. I mean, there are the food bills. And the treats. And the toys. And the cleaning up after. Hmm... Maybe he isn't so free afterall. But I digress. This bird is our pet. I know, not the most fluffy or cozy of pets. But he is ours. And he likes to make himself known. He currently resides in a wire cage in the corner of our bedroom. We leave the doors open and the top off. Apparently he doesn't think of freedom in the true sense of the word. Every so often, he'll fall out of his cage. Seriously. He'll go to move from one perch to another and literally "fall" out of the cage. He flutters about the room for a while, hits the wall a couple of times, and lands on the floor. Where he sits. And looks up at us with those big bird eyes begging us to come get him. Flying is foreign to this bird. He has toys too. Bells. Bells he likes to ring. At all hours of the night. So we have taken to putting them on the outside of his cage at night so he cannot play with his toys. He will climb to the top of the open cage, crawl over the side to get at his bells, and fall. He flutters about the room for a while, hits the wall a couple of times... well, you know - he's done this before. And we have to get out of bed, go find him, and put him back in his cage. He is quite content in his cage. And really hates it when he accidentally falls out of it. Which got me to thinking. How much are we like birds? We live in our cages... content to eat and chirp and play with our toys. Constrained and trained by limiting beliefs that the world is harsh or we can't make it or we're not good enough, fast enough, or don't have what it takes... So we are content to stay on our safe perch... and when we do manage to 'fall' into our freedom, it scares the beejeesus out of us and we flutter about and hit the wall a couple of times and give up... and we beg for someone to put us back in our cage. Flying is foreign to us. But aren't you the least bit curious? I mean, the top is off and the door is open! Spread your wings - fly - practice a few times... soon you'll learn to avoid the wall, find your rhythm and get the hang of the whole freedom thing.... and who knows what open doors and windows you might find in your adventures outside of your cage.