Some choose to break free of their comfort zones late in their lives. Having been on auto-pilot mode, they feel tired and demotivated. The uninteresting routines. The cumbersome responsibilities. Each one saps a part of them dry and leaves them ghosted or shelved.
And one stray morning, something happens. The rubber band snaps. They realize that they are not happy; that time is not on their side. Frightened, they look to break to their routines. Make little changes that will pave the way for bigger and bolder transitions. Demand a butterfly to flap its wings one more time. Seize control of the future – without forgetting the past.
The determination lasts for a few months before their plans go kaput. And it occurs to them that it probably wasn’t a great idea to invest so heavily in a plan that sounds similar to Time Cop. Especially, when they can’t do half the things that Jean-Claude Van Damme does.
As a late-bloomer, I find myself bound to old habits while pursuing newly-set goals. For instance, I was late in realizing how gorgeous waterbirds are. For over two years, I had ignored them. I was worried that they might distract me from sighting other types of birds that were more difficult to spot.
But, during last year’s winter season, I spent a good amount of time with Eurasian Spoonbills, Black-Headed Ibises, Night Herons, Asian Openbills and Grey Herons. They had me slapping my forehead and mouthing expletives at the open skies. Don’t worry. That’s what I do when I fall in love with members of my own species too.
The spoonbills and ibises, in particular, had me mesmerized. One has a gigantic spoon for a beak and the other looks like the Marvin the Martian’s Instant Alien from the Looney Tunes show. I couldn’t believe that it took me that long to see the beauty in them.
Perhaps, such is the nature of the journey that I, like many others, have embarked upon. We were late to our own parties. So, we have no right to complain about not having received the invitations on time. Instead, we should be glad that the dancefloor isn’t yet empty.
But, if you haven’t reached the point in your life where seeking and finding contentment is a matter of utmost concern. Search for the sneaky bastard anyway. Hunt it down.
I bet it’s easier than learning how to do splits.
“The world owes you nothing. It was here first”
(Photographs: Vedanthangal)
You’ve just discovered another level in the wonderful avian world! Keep going and will definitely elevate your soul. Thank you! 🙂
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A beautiful notion you leave me with. Thank you, dear friend!
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Oh so lovely birds! Merry Christmas my friend~
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Thank you Cindy! Happy holidays to you.
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Haha! I never thought of the ibis as the instant martian but YESSSSS! You pegged it. Your photos are awesome…looks to be a roosting tree of some kind. We have one of those right in our neighborhood, but only white ibis and great egret (and a few smaller herons) bed down there for the night. No less spectacular.
People drive by that tree every night oblivious to it. I’m glad to see you are falling in love with the water birds. They have a seduction all their own.
PS – I’ve never seen the black-headed ibis! What a beauty. He may be my favorite of all of them now (even more so than the roseate here in America).
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Thanks Shannon, I went clickety click with vengeance the moment I spotted them, I m lucky to have gotten some decent shots in!
The fact that everyone else seems oblivious makes the experience a little special, don’t you think? (Smile)
I so love your water birds, dear friend, I need to see the roseate damsel again!
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Nice read. I think we pride in moving away from our comfort zones in some sense to validate our resilience. Its a proof of our ability to adapt, just like these beautiful birds and everything else in nature does.
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Thanks som! You hit the nail on the head, we do so “to validate our resilience…and ability to adapt”. The difference being that we continue to be a disruptive factor in the ecosystem given that we adapt to luxuriously thrive, not merely survive.
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Follow your dreams..is the motive. .lovelyy pics…😊👌👌
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Yeah it kinda is I suppose (smile) thank you neethu!
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Yeah for ibises! Two have moved into the lake in front of our Bangalore abode and I am revelling in their presence.
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Lovely, can’t wait for the photographs! These cuties or the glossy ones?
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Black-headed – the cuties. 🙂 Just saw the glossy ones, actually, but no photographs.
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(BIG SMILE)!
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Fashionably late, as they say! A belated Merry Christmas to you 🙂 But hey, better late than never, right?
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Reblogged this on Journal Edge.
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Very nice pics
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Thank you, Ben.
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This made me smile!
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I am glad it did, Margaret!
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great read
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Thank you.
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This was a great post to read, and a severe reminder to myself to get out of my own comfort zone. Inspiring read.
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Thank you so much. I am really glad it had that effect.
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I like the way you always have some life goal and connect them with birds. It opens up a new and fresh perspective to life and bird-watching. I have always liked water birds as they are easy to spot. I let the laborious be! I the comfort-loving, complaining bastard!
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Thank you, Susan. Sounds good to me. Because, it can be comforting to take comfort in small comforts. Hmmm I am pretty sure I could have phrased that one better but you get my drift (smiles).
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Nice post. It hit a raw spot especially since I am in a spot where there is so much to do and so little time. The photos are great but I need to admit I can’t tell a crow from a pigeons. All the best to you.
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Thank you, Govind. Much appreciated. I guess, we are all running out of time in some way or the other. Like the movie liner goes, let’s “get busy living or get busy dying”.
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Wonderful read!Thought provoking too.Glad to see the pictures.They are marvelous.
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Much appreciated, shruti. Thank you for the kind words.
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Beautifull 😍👌👌👌
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Thank you!
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