Overcoming Adversity is all part of Flight Training
Posted by admin on August 21, 2009
The other morning when I let my Portuguese Water Dog Emma out for her morning duties, I noticed a fledgling Robin in our back yard. This little guy hadn’t mastered flight yet, as a matter of fact, it was probably its first moment out of the nest.
I watched him all day trying to fly – all on his own. I thought he had been abandoned by his parents and being the “savior of all things furry, feathery and small” I was ready to make a little nest for him as per the instructions I looked up on the internet. I researched what to feed him, how to feed him and how to care for the little guy until…I don’t know when. I told my husband Dave about him and he kept telling me to leave him alone that he needed to learn on his own. I became obsessed with watching his failed attempts and then periods of rest. To allow him space without fear or interruption, I kept Emma out of the yard and took her for a long walk to give “Peep” – yes, of course I named him (or her) – the space to keep practicing.
A few hours later I saw his mom arrive to feed him while he was on the ground, I then knew for sure it was all part of flight training. Later in the afternoon, Peep was still in our yard, on the low rung of our garden fence and since he didn’t seem wary of humans yet, I approached him. I took oh, about 100 pictures of him and as I crept closer and closer until I realized that he didn’t mind me being there. I got right up to him and he let me rub his little spotted belly. That was so great! After sharing this amazing news with Dave, he promptly told me that now I will have to look after him since his parents won’t take him back now that he’s been touched by a human. Back to the internet to verify this fact as the guilt washed over me. Nope, it’s a myth. Peep will not be shunned by his family. Phew.
Around dinner time Peep’s mom and dad came back, fed him some more and then more flight training. By nightfall he had made it into the tree in our yard and I’m guessing, into his nest to sleep. The whole day of watching this guy struggle, then succeed made me think how many times in my desire to “help” those I perceive as suffering in some way, that I my interventions could actually be hindering them. Gulp.
At the same time that Peep was in our yard, I was struggling with a family situation that was pushing all my “savior” buttons and I was contemplating intervening to “help” those involved. That day with Peep taught me how we can inadvertently cripple those we’re trying to assist simply by our beliefs about what they are capable of. Peep reminded me of the brilliance within each and every one of us!
Kimberly Martin is a Certified Executive Coach and Principal of Martin Business Leadership, which creates custom business relationship strategies for health and wellness providers. They’ll help you grow your business, bring in new clients, solidify existing relationships and have enjoyable, authentic, effortless selling interactions! Visit www.MartinBusinessLeadership.com
Great story Kimberly and a poignant lesson for all the “saviors” of the world. Sometimes we just need to step back and let nature take its course, trusting that it is perfect…which of course it is.
Thanks for sharing this, Kimberly. I am reminded of the oh-so-many times, when, as either a coach or a counsellor, I have had to bite my tongue to avoid giving someone what was obviously (to me!) BRILLIANT advice about their difficult situation. When I have had the good sense to say, “What approach seems the best to you, given what you know about this situation right now?”, I am always amazed at my client’s MORE brilliant solution. It is almost always an approach I had not thought of, and it often addresses a myriad of details and/or nuances that I may not have known about. So little Peep reminds us once again to trust that those we serve WILL flourish once we get out of their way.
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