Sometimes you read stories that are so powerful that they stick with you and maybe even change you. Today I wanted to highlight a couple stories that have changed my perspective and given me hope.
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"I am on my way with the necessary equipment" was the message Kerstin Langenberger sent before heading to save a baby swan that had been stuck to the ice on a lake in Reykjavik. There had been messages going back and forth within the birding group on Facebook discussing the cygnet, worrying about whether or not it would be able to work itself free and survive. She read those comments, got her tool bag, and set off to free the swan.
Her quick thinking and willingness to help and just do the thing saved the swan. It's also a wonderful reminder that even though we may not be able to do everything, we can often do one thing and it will have an impact. There's so much going on around us with a constant stream of stress-inducing news. That made me think about how I can show up when I'm needed, with the necessary equipment.
Abundance
Over the holiday I read a book I didn't even know I was waiting for. But what was in this book is something I've been wanting and talking about for years without ever writing it down or exploring it completely. The Serviceberry: Abundance and Reciprocity in the Natural World by Robin Wall Kimmerer talks about reciprocity, gift-giving, and abundance in the natural world. These are things we're taught don't exist or don't matter in the cut-throat, get what you can and screw everyone else capitalist economy of the USA. I finally saw in print what I've been saying for years. There is enough. We grow what we sow. When we give we get more back. And you can see this in nature. The abundance, the sharing of resources, the balance.
I watch the birds outside my window at the feeder. When I go outside, they erupt in a flurry of wings from the ground, the branches, secret hiding places I didn't even see in the garden.
I used to think they were fighting all the time. There's a lot of chatter out there between the song sparrows, the white-crowned sparrows, the dark-eyed juncos, the bush tits, the goldfinches. I would tell people about how the sparrow hops and talks at the other birds to keep them away.
But the other day I watched more closely. Sure they're all a bit territorial—everyone wants some seeds—but I also noticed how they came in groups. The song sparrow was the bravest among them, landing first on the feeder. Then came a few dark-eyed juncos, a pair of goldfinches, then the white-crowned sparrows, until pretty soon the yard was filled. And finally the bush tits would whip by like a tiny, chirping whirlwind. Sure, they all chased each other a bit, but they all ate. They all came back. They were, in their territorial way, sharing. And it made me think of that book.
There is enough to share, and even when there's not enough, or we're afraid it might run out, it's still better to share than horde. It's better and safer to eat together than alone. Sharing creates community, triggers reciprocity, and helps us form connection.
And in a world where there's so much destruction, sadness, and separation, sharing within our community grows our relationships and makes us stronger. There is enough. There is abundance.
Happy new year to all of you and may we embody who we want to be. ♥️
© 2021 - 2025 Marisa Morby
