The Birds always show up
The morning rose through the sky waiting to see what the day would become. Trusting that beauty would make its presence known, even after waking beneath a spirit of clouds.
Whirlwinds of thoughts cycling through my head. Overthinking. Allowing doubt and worry to take front and center. I find myself replaying the sour lemons life has tossed my way over the years. Knowing I should lean into the goodness that surrounds me. But some days are just like that. One moment you’re on top of the world, and the next, a single thought can come crashing in.
A moment where the thoughts outpower the soul. Pulling you into the most fragile undesirable corners of yourself. Caught in a loop. Wondering if my dreams are worth it. Wondering how my dreams will take shape. Wondering if my dreams will ever come to life.
Life. That is it right there. Reminding you there are days where you will have to dig deeper than a shovel striking the rocks. Reminding you the journey, often lumpy and hard, never truly ends.
You have to keep showing up. You have to keep leaning into action and consistency. One step at a time. Never really knowing the pit stops that await along the way or where you will land. You just have to keep going. Day after day. Sunrise to sunset. Sunset to sunrise.
And this day had made its presence known. Shifting in ways that required me to propel myself so I can meet the sunrise instead of easily gliding into the day’s sweet embrace. Sitting within the confines of four walls while staring at a blank screen. Frozen in time. Waiting for something to happen, yet every option feels futile. No edge to my personality. No strength in my body. No power in my thoughts. And yet…my spirit knows this: feeling this moment is needed, but do not let it control you.
This is the journey of all dreamers.
See, dreaming looks easy. Sounds smooth. But in reality dreaming asks the core of your soul to feel what others cannot. To do what others will not do. To sense what others cannot sense. It is the depth of your being palpating through heartbeats. Heartbeats of courage. Heartbeats of doubt. Heartbeats of overcoming. Overcoming in a way only you can understand. Why? Because no one is coming to save you. Only you can do that.
Sometimes what you need does not come from friends or foes. They cannot lead you to the promised land. They cannot guide you down answered lanes. They cannot march you to the path your soul is meant to travel. Only the rhythm of your own courage can carry you forward.
And stepping out of the cloudy morning slumber today was that reminder. How do I collect these eighty six thousand four hundred seconds without letting them slip away into the quiet ticking of the day? Being present in the now? Staying open for what awaits? Listening for the sweet whispers of the birds?
See, the birds always show up. A red cardinal to be precise. Perched between the hot jagged concrete and the edge of the hardened grass. There it was. Letting its presence be known. Revealing that in this moment, we were meant to meet. At this moment, I was exactly where I needed to be.
Even in the complexities of the day, life will show up to remind you to be present. To fully feel it all. The highs. The lows. The in-between. To remind you that your march towards the dream is worth every step. Every stumble. Every pause. You have to keep going. Yes. But do so while noticing the moments of small miracles that fill your heart with gratitude
I received this moment as the red cardinal appeared before me. Right there on the ground. As if it has been expecting me and knowing I needed this moment. Its eyes peered into my soul. Lingering to confirm: I am here for you. A quiet whisper. An unspoken connection. In that stillness, I felt the gentle reminder that even in the chaos of the morning, there are moments of grace and alignment that show up just for me.
My body sank into a calmness as if riding the sea. As if the waves were carrying me. Teaching me to breathe. To surrender. To trust. This is how you move forward. This is how you rise. This is how the journey continues. One heartbeat at a time. One tender, courageous step at a time.
Even when the path twists or the horizon feels distant, the present moment is your anchor. Your sanctuary. Your quiet reminder that the journey itself is a gift. And that rising and moving forward is always enough. Because the journey never ends.
If you remain present, if you keep marching forward, there will be moments where the birds linger or return again and again. With sweet sounds of comfort. With sweet sounds of peace. With sweet sounds of calm. With sweet sounds of joy. Each sound is a gentle reminder that your path has been beautifully cultivated for you. No overthinking needed. No reaching beyond yourself. Only returning to your own heartbeat.
Those heartbeats will carry you and your dreams. They will guide you through the next leg of your journey. The one you are meant to ride. And this time you will step into it better prepared. More equipped. Fully present. This moment is yours. It has always been yours.
Mo 💛