05/20/2026
I witnessed this fledgling robin leave its nest yesterday. I marveled how still it sat despite me coming and going and my dogs barking. Its nervous system was responding as it always had. It was responding in a way that worked up until now (freeze). It hasn’t yet learned to navigate this big world, and it longingly stared back up at its nest (its safety). Over the next few days it will learn to fly, its capacity and wisdom will expand and it will thrive as its world continues to expand. It made me realize that sometimes I default to a response that worked before or longingly think back to what I deemed as “safe”. But just like this little bird, if I stay with the same responses or longingly seek refuge it only what I’ve known, I too will miss my opportunity to fly.