Finding Inspiration: Lessons Learned

It was a dark and stormy night, well actually it was late morning but the rest of the story is true, as far as I can remember. The setting is a typical stormy winter day in Northern California. I’m feeling melancholy as I sit looking out my bedroom window watching the trees sway in the gusting winds with the rain unsure in which direction to go. My attention is draw to a single bird hanging on to dear life on a top branch of a bare apple tree. As the gusts of wind bend the bare branch, I observe how the bird continues to hang on, regardless of the fierce force of nature. I am inspired by the bird’s tenacity to not let go. I believe I am being taught a lesson (actually several lessons as you will read later). I, like the bird, must hang on despite whatever forces are working to weaken my grip so that I give up and fall away.

As I continue to be inspired by this enduring bird (I can’t quite make out which species the bird belongs to with the inclement weather and all) my wife walks into the room and sits beside and looks out the window with me. I point out the bird that relentlessly continues to hang on to the branch. She looks at the bird and then she looks at me and smiles. She gets up and goes to my dresser and brings me my glasses. I guess she thinks I’ll be able to figure out what type of bird has inspired me for a good part of an hour. I put my glasses and look towards the bird but the bird is gone!

I am saddened that I missed the bird’s departure and I question myself, “Did the bird lose its grip?” “Did the bird fly off on its own?” “How could I miss so much in a few split seconds?” I take off my glasses to ponder these questions. I look out the window again and there is the bird. The bird returned!!

Without moving my focus off the bird, I quickly put my glasses back on to get a clearer view. In the instant I put on my glasses, the bird has transformed into a leaf, a single leaf remaining on the top branch of bare apple tree. Yes, I was inspired by a leaf.

This inspiring moment occurred over 15 years ago and I am still reminded of the bird/leaf when I need inspiration to tackle a challenging task.

Lessons Learned

The first lesson I learned from the bird/leaf is that inspiration comes from one’s own perception. At the time I was feeling melancholy and was ripe for an inspiring lesson. And there before me was the tenacious bird that transformed itself into a leaf.

The second lesson I learned is that it doesn’t matter where inspiration comes from as long as we are motivated to do something. Inspiration can be found in the most unlikely or unusual of places or circumstances. We just need to be looking for it.

Another lesson learned is that inspiration has multiple applications. Just because the bird became a leaf didn’t diminish the inspiration to hang on despite whatever challenging circumstances we may be facing. The leaf reminded me of the cycle of life. In the spring the tree would once again produce thousands of new leaves and one single leaf that would endure a winter’s storm.

The most profound lesson learned: never question the wisdom of a wife.