The Magnificent American Bald Eagle

The American Bald Eagle is nature’s most impressive bird.  This eagle is a symbol of strength and is the Ruler of the Skies.  Native Americans consider the American Bald Eagle to be a symbol of the Great Spirit.  They use eagle feathers in head dresses and spiritual ceremonies.   The Eagle is a symbol of freedom, honor, respect, power, and dignity.  The American Bald Eagle is symbolized on the Great Seal of the United States of America.

These powerful birds have the longest lifespan of its species and live up to 70 years.  The eagle glides and drifts on air pockets to conserve energy and then takes off in fast, furious, focused flight for maximum result.  In order to live 70 years, the eagle must make a hard decision at about age 40.

By age 40 the eagle’s long and flexible talons can no longer grab its prey.  Its beak becomes bent and its powerful wings become old and heavy and become stuck to its chest making flight difficult.  At this point, the eagle must choose to either die or go through a painful 150 day process of change.

If the choice is to live, the eagle must fly to its nest high on the mountain top where it will knock its beak against a rock until it plucks it out.  It patiently waits for a new beak to grow.  Then with its new beak it will pluck out its talons.  When the talons grow back, the eagle begins plucking out its aged feathers.    It patiently waits again for new feathers to grow.   After 5 months of painful change, the eagle takes its famous flight of re-birth and lives another 30 years.

This re-birth teaches us a very important lesson.  Many times to survive and thrive we must begin a process of change.   Everything is in a state of evolution and as we evolve, as people and as nations we must leave behind obsolete and unproductive beliefs and behaviors.  Sometimes we must step back and thoughtfully recognize old habits and behaviors that no longer serve us and are holding us back from becoming all that we can be.

For now, Earlynn’s just sayin: “Life’s great lessons are so often taught in nature.   When we observe the magnificent American Bald Eagle, we learn that our past can become a burden that holds us back from enjoying all that we can be.  We must not be afraid to change because in change we find the beauty in the present.”

http://earlynnsjustsayin.org/inspirational-thought/

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