Oh, to be a blue bird

I used to walk during my lunch break... most days.

One day, as I left the parking lot with it's big iron gate, and turned the corner to the first stretch of my walking route, a blue bird landed in front of me and began to hop along beside me, as though it's purpose for the day was to join me while I dutifully worked exercise into my life. The sun was shining through the many clouds that cover that beautiful city on an almost too regular basis (in most people's opinions... I however, love clouds, rain etc). This magnificent creature, with it's impossible-to-describe-the-exact-shade-of-blue feathers, made itself a part of my life for just a few moments, looking curiously up at me; a giant compared to it's tiny frame. Yet it was not afraid. It did not fly away. It just hopped happily along with me, taking in my thoughts, like an old friend listening to my troubles without me needing to say a word.

Just seeing that bird, with the sun shining on our backs as we walked together for that brief moment in time, made me think about all the beautiful things in my life that I should be grateful for.

Oh, to be a blue bird. To be able to inspire as this bird inspired me.

At first, I thought it was it's physical beauty that made me think about beauty itself. But I was wrong. It had nothing to do with the stunning display of color which adorned it's wings, but the innocence and absolute trust with which it presented itself to me... somehow knowing that I would not dream of abusing that trust by hurting it in any way.
That innocence is what made me think about true beauty for the remainder of my walk.
Perhaps it is time to remember that lesson again now. To truly appreciate the beautiful things in my life, to keep myself grounded and humble.

Oh, to be a blue bird...