walkinbeauty
Location: Tucson, Arizona, United States
Traditions: Buddhism, Christianity, Unitarian, Native American, Pagan
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Boldness - Courage
A Bold Quail
Sitting at my mother’s window last Christmas, I watched her throw a handful of seed on the ground for the covey of quail huddled in the trees about a hundred yards away. Eventually they ventured out in a single line from the trees and began pecking away at the ground, grateful I am sure, for the sustenance during the very chilly snowy mornings.

But quail are skittish birds and at the slightest hint of movement or noise, they flurry back to the safety of the small grove of pine. The sound of their wings made low whirring sounds in unity which I could hear even through the closed window.

As I watched, there was one quail, who remained behind and kept eating. Every day, this little ritual would occur, and every day, I watched Gretchen, as I came to calling her, remain behind and continue eating. I suddenly became aware of how people get so into the group thinking and run because everyone runs, that they rob themselves of the blessings in store if they were just bold enough to remain and face their fear and risk not thinking like everyone else.

I learned a lot from Gretchen that week as day after day, her boldness paid off. She got more to eat than the others, she conserved her energy by not flurrying off like the others.

I call Gretchen bold. She dared to be different and stand alone when she needed to. Bold means to live life to the fullest and not give in to fear.

A Bold Quail

Sitting at my mother’s window last Christmas, I watched her throw a handful of seed on the ground for the covey of quail huddled in the trees about a hundred yards away. Eventually they ventured out in a single line from the trees and began pecking away at the ground, grateful I am sure, for the sustenance during the very chilly snowy mornings.

But quail are skittish birds and at the slightest hint of movement or noise, they flurry back to the safety of the small grove of pine. The sound of their wings made low whirring sounds in unity which I could hear even through the closed window.

As I watched, there was one quail, who remained behind and kept eating. Every day, this little ritual would occur, and every day, I watched Gretchen, as I came to calling her, remain behind and continue eating. I suddenly became aware of how people get so into the group thinking and run because everyone runs, that they rob themselves of the blessings in store if they were just bold enough to remain and face their fear and risk not thinking like everyone else.

I learned a lot from Gretchen that week as day after day, her boldness paid off. She got more to eat than the others, she conserved her energy by not flurrying off like the others.

I call Gretchen bold. She dared to be different and stand alone when she needed to. Bold means to live life to the fullest and not give in to fear.

Source

Contribution #858

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Contribution #858