What are you waiting for?Earth Shattering Big Time Happy?
?……………………What are you waiting for?
WooHoo! The bluebirds are back!
So?
What the heck do birds have to do with big time happy?
Let me fill you in.
BACKSTORY-I’ve been putting off writing a blog post for weeks.
Why?…I’d convinced myself that whatever I posted had to be of EARTH-SHATTERING interest; so full of ‘Ah-Ha’ moments that you could barely catch your breath.
Well, guess what?
I couldn’t even dig up an ounce of Earth Shattering. Worse yet, I’d managed to back my post into a dark, silent, glum corner…you know…that corner where only daDismal hangs out. That’s where my engine stalled. Day after day…full of sh*! stalled.
ENOUGH! Dawnie, let it go already. So I did.
NEW STORY– I decided to rev up a new engine, this one parked in a different corner of my world.
Out came the little BMW convertible. It was time to go for a drive…top down, I hit the road.
Pulling on a toque, I headed south into town. (May can still be a tad chilly around here). It didn’t take long before a good dose of brisk spring air had thoroughly rinsed out my brain.
Home again, I went straight to my office, sat down and started writing about the first thing that came into my now fresh-air-experienced mind.
Finally, out of the daDismal corner and into the light. Woohoo! indeed.
Here it is…my earth-shattering, man-this-feels-big time happy story.
BLUEBIRDS OF HAPPINESS:
Early in the spring, I’d spotted a nestbox that had fallen off its fencepost into the ditch along the highway.
(Years ago someone put up bluebird nestboxes—that’s why these birds always come back here—they’re coming home.)
I pulled onto the gravel shoulder, rummaged around in the back of the SUV for something to use as a hammer (small shovel would do) and a length of heavy old wire…I was good to go.
After plonking and adjusting, twisting and shovel-hammering, the nest box was back up, wired onto the post, a little off kilter but secure.
Then I waited. Day after day I watched. I waited some more.
Suddenly, they showed up.
Driving by, I notice mercurial streaks of color first.
“What was that?”
Where?
“There! No There! Over there—Yes, there!”
It’s the most amazing thing. A streak of high octane blue illuminates an already clear blue spring sky.
I spy a nimble little beauty flicking sparks of this high octane blue as his calling card…one deliciously bright he-man bluebird has arrived.
Each day, I slowly drive past the row of nestboxes. Hoping to catch the male sitting still, taking a break from his primping and preening in between scooping up insects from the grassy field, my patience is rewarded. Better yet, his mate sits close by. I’m thrilled. Elated. Calmed. They’re back.
Today there are 2 pair of bluebirds nesting along the highway…fencepost neighbours, so to speak. They dart and spark the sky.
I swear I inhale happiness at the sight of them.
Sometimes I wish they were around all year long, streaks of cheer to watch in the dead cold of winter. How selfish is that? Nope, my life is richer, more exciting when I allow room for the anticipation of their return each and every spring.
Is today the day? Maybe tomorrow? Any box need fixing before they get here? I can do that.
REAL STORY:
My bluebirds of happiness may be small potatoes in the scheme of things…hardly Earth Shattering, until I realize that this infusion of Blue Joy is oozing from my inside out. It spills out of me, onto and into everything around. Ho-hum normal is effortlessly blasted into a moment of Happy—big time happy.
A single bluebird sighting binds me to the Ah-Ha. I catch my breath. Time stops. I am NOW.
He-man Bluebird-Big Time Happy at Home.
Tell me that isn’t Earth Shattering, even for a moment? When did you last stop time?
I’d love to hear about your ‘bluebird of happiness?’ Really.
Add your voice to mine.
Post a comment.
Share your story.
What’s your big time happy?
What are you waiting for?
Wanna Live More? Laugh More? Love More? When I’m not watching bluebirds or shovel-hammering nestboxes, I like to help others get real and find freedom…the kind that comes from being connected to central self.
Check out my site and blog at dawnkotzer.com. Certified Creativity Coach, Martha Beck Certified Life Coach, Artist, Student of Curiosities.
Comments (6)
Great story Dawn. I can almost picture you out there repairing the bluebird house. That’s an important job as bluebirds can’t carry hammers 🙂
I find it rewarding to help co-inhabitants here on earth. As examples, I’ll stick with your bird theme:
1) I found great joy having a bird bath heater out for the first time ever last winter. I’ve fed birds forever but for whatever reason, I’d never solved the water issue.
2) It has been brutally windy here the last two days. Yesterday I watched a baby hawk in flight school. Apparently, mama hawk picked a really windy day to teach the art of hovering. It was very enjoyable to watch. Last year there were four hawks here. It was awesome to watch buzz the skies day after day.
I guess I’m easy to entertain 🙂
The Art of Hovering…now there’s a great phrase, Mike. I can just imagine the baby hawk working hard to grab a ‘wingtip hold’. Have you ever had occasion to watch vultures sail close overhead on a warm thermal? Beauty.
That’s a good point about birds and water.
Love the image of ‘What, no hammer?’ he-man bluebird.
Thanks for eyes and your words.
Hi Dawn -welcome back to posting 🙂
Your post reminded me of watching some wood pigeons last year “nest” outside my window. Nest is probably an over generous description for the twigs they somehow manage to balance on a branch. In comparison to the other birds nesting around the garden, their attempt was in a league of it’s own and apparently not in a good way.
Yet, it not only stayed on the branch they managed to lay eggs that turned into chicks. I watched those chicks grow all somehow balancing in that nest until it was time for them to learn to fly. Again in comparison to the other youngsters in the garden it looked like this was not going to end well. However, despite banking off the window a few times and developing a technique that sounded like they flew onto the roof and stepped off to crash through the branches – they learnt to fly.
They apparently were busy finding the ways that work for them rather than comparing themselves to the other birds 🙂 I’m just wondering if the couple of wood pigeons showing interest in that same tree are going to have a similar approach this year.
Hi Jen.
“finding the ways that work for them rather than comparing themselves to the other birds.” Oh the lessons birds can teach us. It is amazing watching birds living life on the edge…”balance on a branch.”
Thanks for sharing some big time happy. What a great story.
Thanks for sharing your Bluebirds of Happiness! Hummingbird sightings leave me entranced in the same way. Egrets and herons too. I am told that in Native American circles herons are thought to bring messages from the realm of spirit, so their sightings are especially reassuring (and often amazingly timed!) I love them AND your website and blog – gorgeous photos and prose that sings of joy. It really is the little things that make for Big Time Happy—thanks for such a beautiful reminder.
Muse hugs!
Egrets, hummingbirds, bluebirds and most especially herons…we seem to be surrounded by the realm of spirit. Thanks for reading, Paula. Back at you in your paradise.