A Lesson from an Owl

A Lesson from an Owl

A Lesson from an Owl

Our owl made a grand appearance again last Friday. I call him “ours” because he’s a great “horned” owl, and we are the Horns. I don’t think that’s a coincidence. Each time he visits it feels like it’s just for us, and I am granting myself this one delusion.

We knew he was out in the trees behind our house because all of the other birds were going absolutely nuts.

Great Horned Owl

Owls are predatory birds which mean they pose a threat to the babies of the crows and smaller birds that hang in those same trees. The birds squawk and swoop at the owl trying so hard to drive him away.

The owl on the other hand does absolutely nothing. Just sits. Well, he’ll duck every now and again as a crow flies at his head, but basically he meditates through all of that chaos.

As Phillip and I stood in our yard watching the owl, which we are completely fascinated by, he said, “I want to be like that owl.” Completely calm, a slight turn of the head 280-degrees to see what’s going on, but fully unaffected by any of it.

Owls have a very calm confidence, a definite tranquility, and a hint of swagger.

I believe we all have an inner owl. When life goes nuts around us, we can tap into that serenity. We can let everything squawk and swoop and sit calmly just observing without feeling the need to get involved.

I grabbed my camera and got a few good shots as a reminder to embody the owl when life swarms around me.

Calm confidence. Definite tranquility. A hint of swagger.

Great Horned Owl

Just so absolutely peaceful.

Great Horned Owl

He’s ducking.

Great Horned Owl

Love those “horns.” Ha.