TAKING A LEAP – WEEKLY PHOTO CHALLENGE “OOPS”

“He who leaps for the sky may fall. But he may also fly.”

Lauren Oliver

AAAACK !!

AAAACK !!

This past spring I posted about a photo shoot I did with some friends on a private farm that had become an incredible bird sanctuary. When I saw this week’s challenge “Oops”, I thought immediately of the tiny baby birds who were venturing out for their first attempt at flight. Clearly this is where the phrase “out on a limb” originated!

READY, SET, GO

READY, SET, GO

“Without leaps of imagination or dreaming, we lose the excitement of possibilities.”

Gloria Steinem

The birds’ nests were all located in trees that overhung a large lagoon, and one misstep meant a serious dunking or a much worse fate – sadly we saw several of the latter. As the birds made their way out of the nest and onto the branches we could see how tentative they were, and how much difficulty they had balancing their big feet and disproportionately heavy bodies using their tiny little wings.

TAKING THE LEAP

TAKING THE LEAP

“My heart leaps for joy and I will give thanks to him in song.”

Psalm 28:7 NIV

So too, we humans face choices and challenges continually. What runs through our minds as we consider our options, and at what point are we willing to make a leap over each hurdle? Are we optimists who have faith in our decisions, or pessimists who prefer to look the other way when new opportunities arise?

MOMENT OF TRUTH

MOMENT OF TRUTH

“All growth is a leap in the dark, a spontaneous act without the benefit of experience.”

Henry Miller

Yesterday I was speaking with some friends about those moments in life that carry profound meaning and are never forgotten. I had one such moment long ago when my father advised me that “There is no such thing as a bad decision. You made a decision and then you make it the right one.”  I’ve returned to that advice many times since, and it has never failed me.

GRACE

GRACE

“Sometimes you just have to take the leap and build your wings on the way down.”

Kobi Yamada

Hopefully, like the baby birds, our leaps of courage will lead us to a place of grace and beauty. Just think about those tiny egrets, and remember them the next time you face a difficult choice.  As Frederick Wilcox once said “Progress always involves risks. You cna’t steal second base while keeping your foot on first.”

Here’s wishing everyone a week filled with leaps of confidence 😊

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90 thoughts on “TAKING A LEAP – WEEKLY PHOTO CHALLENGE “OOPS””

  3. Such a beautiful post, Tina. I absolutely love the advice your dad gave you. So much optimism comes through it, isn’t it. 🙂

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  8. All good words to remember. The baby bird pictures are sweet. I couldn’t find something appropriate for this week’s challenge. And on top of that, there’s been the Christmas social whirl which means that I didn’t try very hard anyway.

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  12. These are fabulous shots! I love how you interrupted “oops” – a natural “oops” when a baby bird is taking its first flight.

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  15. Memorable as always Tina particularly your father’s advice to you. I think of my parents often and remember all that they did for us to ensure we could cope with all that life would throw at us. So much to thank them for. It’s just a shame they can’t be here to see how well they succeeded. Have a great week ahead. Glad you enjoyed my Oops 🙂

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  19. beautiful post – and that first image is especially heartwarming.
     
    earlier today, before i read you post, i was reminded of some of my Dad’s advice to me before i left home for an extended time after high school, and i had to think of it again as i read your words. advice that is quite unrelated, and yet it is wonderful to have some advice to turn to, something which endears our parents to us even more.
     
    my Dad’s advice – even on cloudy days, you can know that the sun is still shining. and it’s similar with God. even in those times when he feels far away, he really is not. sometimes there’s just something clouding our perception.

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    • Thanks Kris, especially for sharing your father’s lovely advice. I think it’s all any parent can hope for, that their words should have a profound and lasting effect on their children. If only all kids were so lucky as to have parents who love them and guide them with wisdom.

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  20. Such an uplifting post with uplifting quotes, Tina. I actually really like what you dad told you – that in itself is a marvelous quote. We have to live with every decision that we make, and although we may not like the immediate consequences of them at times, often we find a way to soldier on and carry on. Love the photos, and good variety – the bird hunched over, and then with its wings spread open. Sort of got me thinking that it is eager to fly but doesn’t know where to go and when to go…or that it can’t decide if it’s feeling hot or cold 😀

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  24. A good message for me in my move home. I’m sure I will have some leaps that will challenge me on my way to full recovery. Beautiful photos. Love you Pam

    Sent from my iPad

    >

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  31. Hi Tina. That’s an interesting quote from your dad. I can see why you return to it again and again. I had never thought of making the decision “work” quite that way. Thanks! And those tentative and scary first flight moments are beautifully captured.

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    • Thanks Lex – they morph from really ugly newborns into clumsy fledglings and from there emerge as magnificently beautiful creatures. All in the space of just a few weeks. It’s amazing really.

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  34. Wonderful photos. It’s incredible the time between hatching and taking their first flight is so short. For robins, I think it’s three weeks.

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  41. T – This particular blog really touched me. As always, the photos were wonderful but I so enjoyed what you had to say. Well done!!

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  42. Great way to illustrate the theme — and to use the shots of all of the ugly chicks getting ready to fly. We’ll go again in the spring. And I also like your father’s advice.

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