Ever since surviving a near-death experience in 2013 (massive pulmonary embolism took me to within two hours of death), I have been asking everyone I meet what their dream is. My favorite answer is "I'm living my dream." Yes, we can't go home again to a pre-COVID world. Perhaps we are now teenagers being kicked out of the nest. Hope …
Ever since surviving a near-death experience in 2013 (massive pulmonary embolism took me to within two hours of death), I have been asking everyone I meet what their dream is. My favorite answer is "I'm living my dream." Yes, we can't go home again to a pre-COVID world. Perhaps we are now teenagers being kicked out of the nest. Hope we find our wings...
Have always liked this bit of wisdom:
Learning to Fly
The eagle gently coaxed her offspring toward the edge of the nest. Her
heart quivered with conflicting emotions as she felt their resistance to her
persistent nudging. "Why does the thrill of soaring have to begin with the
fear of falling?" she thought. This ageless question was still unanswered
for her.
As in the tradition of the species, her nest was located high on the shelf
of a sheer rock face. Below there was nothing but air to support the wings
of each child. "Is it possible that this time it will not work?" she
thought. Despite her fears, the eagle knew it was time. Her parental
mission was all but complete. There remained one final task -- the push.
The eagle drew courage from an innate wisdom. Until her children discovered
their wings, there was no purpose for their lives. Until they learned how
to soar, they would fail to understand the privilege it was to have been
born an eagle. The push was the greatest gift she had to offer. It was her
supreme act of love. And so one by one she pushed them, and they flew!
The symbolism of the Eagle is of course particularly important and pertinent to the American....chosen as the country's symbol in 1782 and Massachusetts 1 cent coin from 1776......and the dream of America is that all can strive to fullfil their dreams, soaring to the heights of their desires, free to deploy their wings.
In Native American culture, the eagle is considered the strongest and bravest of all birds. For this reason, its feathers symbolize what is highest, bravest, strongest, and holiest. It has strong medicine. United States law recognizes the unique significance of eagle feathers in Native American culture, religion, and tradition.
Indeed the eagle has represented continuity in American history and culture for much longer than we would often care to think these days.
In some corporate "touchy feely" class I attended, we were asked to close our eyes and think of where you feel safest. My safe place was soaring high in the air where you could see everything around you. My hobby growing up was Free Flight Model Airplanes. My specialty was the Nordic gliders -- six foot wingspan that you towed up by foot and released hopefully into a thermal so it would continue to rise. A number of times a hawk would join the airplane in the thermal. And even would follow the plane almost to the ground when the plane "dethermalized" (a timer would release the stablizer so the airplane would gently stall and flutter to the ground). It was such a joy to see something you'd built flying with the hawks.
While the Eagle has been a symbol of United States for a couple of centuries including on the Seal of the President, and it was adopted as Germany's coat of arms in 1950, the eagle as a symbol for German Imperial Eagle traces back to Charlemagne and then back even further to the eagle as a symbol of the Roman army. The Eagle originally faced left toward the arrows. President Truman decided to change it to the right which is the proper heraldry direction which made it face to the olive branch of peace. It has been that way ever since.
Yes, I'm quite healthy and well, but with some lung compromise which makes me very vulnerable if I catch COVID. My mantra is six feet apart or six feet under. Those are my choices.
Ever since surviving a near-death experience in 2013 (massive pulmonary embolism took me to within two hours of death), I have been asking everyone I meet what their dream is. My favorite answer is "I'm living my dream." Yes, we can't go home again to a pre-COVID world. Perhaps we are now teenagers being kicked out of the nest. Hope we find our wings...
Have always liked this bit of wisdom:
Learning to Fly
The eagle gently coaxed her offspring toward the edge of the nest. Her
heart quivered with conflicting emotions as she felt their resistance to her
persistent nudging. "Why does the thrill of soaring have to begin with the
fear of falling?" she thought. This ageless question was still unanswered
for her.
As in the tradition of the species, her nest was located high on the shelf
of a sheer rock face. Below there was nothing but air to support the wings
of each child. "Is it possible that this time it will not work?" she
thought. Despite her fears, the eagle knew it was time. Her parental
mission was all but complete. There remained one final task -- the push.
The eagle drew courage from an innate wisdom. Until her children discovered
their wings, there was no purpose for their lives. Until they learned how
to soar, they would fail to understand the privilege it was to have been
born an eagle. The push was the greatest gift she had to offer. It was her
supreme act of love. And so one by one she pushed them, and they flew!
David McNally
June 1990
The symbolism of the Eagle is of course particularly important and pertinent to the American....chosen as the country's symbol in 1782 and Massachusetts 1 cent coin from 1776......and the dream of America is that all can strive to fullfil their dreams, soaring to the heights of their desires, free to deploy their wings.
In Native American culture, the eagle is considered the strongest and bravest of all birds. For this reason, its feathers symbolize what is highest, bravest, strongest, and holiest. It has strong medicine. United States law recognizes the unique significance of eagle feathers in Native American culture, religion, and tradition.
Indeed the eagle has represented continuity in American history and culture for much longer than we would often care to think these days.
In some corporate "touchy feely" class I attended, we were asked to close our eyes and think of where you feel safest. My safe place was soaring high in the air where you could see everything around you. My hobby growing up was Free Flight Model Airplanes. My specialty was the Nordic gliders -- six foot wingspan that you towed up by foot and released hopefully into a thermal so it would continue to rise. A number of times a hawk would join the airplane in the thermal. And even would follow the plane almost to the ground when the plane "dethermalized" (a timer would release the stablizer so the airplane would gently stall and flutter to the ground). It was such a joy to see something you'd built flying with the hawks.
Absolutely! It doesn't get any better....
Look too at the protective role of Eagles in Tolkien.
Love that you tied the Eagle to our American dreams. It is a beautiful image.
Sorry to be a Debbie Downer, but beware the trump and Nazi eagles.
https://globalnews.ca/news/7130932/trump-nazi-eagle-logo-america-first/
While the Eagle has been a symbol of United States for a couple of centuries including on the Seal of the President, and it was adopted as Germany's coat of arms in 1950, the eagle as a symbol for German Imperial Eagle traces back to Charlemagne and then back even further to the eagle as a symbol of the Roman army. The Eagle originally faced left toward the arrows. President Truman decided to change it to the right which is the proper heraldry direction which made it face to the olive branch of peace. It has been that way ever since.
Should be required reading for all parents. Wise words. Thank you for sharing.
Hope you are healthy and well now.
Yes, I'm quite healthy and well, but with some lung compromise which makes me very vulnerable if I catch COVID. My mantra is six feet apart or six feet under. Those are my choices.
Bless you. Be safe.