I like rest. Rest is good. Rest avoids mental breakdowns.
I often find myself contemplating life in the little garden by our building complex. The balcony is my ally.
Like your average nosy old man snooping on his neighbors, I enjoy stalking birds and squirrels in the garden.
Today I noticed a bird, a cool one if you ask me. It was still, poised, and seemingly waiting for something. Then, with a swift and deliberate movement, it darted into the air and snatched a fly from the swarm hovering around it.
This bird is known as a Spotted Flycatcher. And can you guess why… yes Sherlock, they catch flies!
I started observing it. I couldn’t help but see myself in that bird. It got me thinking. Here are a few of my thoughts. Chew on them if you will. I’ll give you birdie num num. Have some num num. Go on.
Focus, One Fly at a Time
Bird see many flies, but bird no catch all. Bird pick one fly. Bird smart.
While stalking this beauty of a bird I found that regardless of what the action-packed photo might hint at, they stay still for quite some time.
It didn’t try to catch every fly that flew by. There were dozens of flies swirling around, all very tempting targets, but it waited for the right moment to catch just one.
When it decides on a fly, it’s as if everything stops for the flycatcher. The only ones on Earth are the bird and the fly it is about to hunt.
Bird ignore all other flies. Bird know what it want. Bird seizes the moment.
For me, all the flies represent modern-day distractions. Social media, reels, shorts… Any short-term gratification we can get.
To be successful, the bird has to tunnel vision, ignore all the other equally appetizing and distracting flies, and focus on the one.
Humans should learn. I certainly should. Limit distractions to pursue one’s goal.
Don’t get me wrong, I think living in the moment and enjoying life are equally important. We should strive to do so in peace with ourselves and our choices. Being mindful of what we do. Not living on autopilot.
Patience Is Power
Bird sit, watch. Bird know timing good. When too fast, bird miss fly.
Spotted flycatchers are experts at waiting. As I mentioned before, they spend most of their time reflecting and peacefully watching.
They don’t rush in, and they don’t get frustrated by the chaos around them. They wait for the perfect moment to strike. And they succeed because of it.
In our fast-paced world, where we expect instant results, there’s something powerful about the flycatcher’s patience.
It’s a reminder that not everything has to happen immediately. Sometimes, waiting for the right moment is the best strategy. Trust in the process. Don’t rush anything.
My Thoughts On The Spotted Flycatcher
Bird no need all flies. Bird choose wisely. Too many flies, bad for bird brain.
In observing the spotted flycatcher, I found a surprising amount of wisdom packed into a small bird.
From focus and patience to the importance also having rests, after a certain time of the day it would leave, I assume to his family.
These birds have much to teach us about thriving in a world full of distractions.
We all have a swarm of “flies” buzzing around us, but like the spotted flycatcher, we must pick our target wisely. Only then will we succeed in catching what matters most to us.
