Tiny engines of endless energy, hummingbirds are synonymous with movement. To catch a glimpse of one in motion is as close to the feeling of spotting a forest fairy hiding amongst the tree limbs. I like to think of each occasion when my eyes land on a hummingbird in flight as a momentary message from the cosmos to me, an auspicious affirmation that I am in right place at the right time in my life--this moment is inherently perfect. Why not choose to think that way, right?
Recently I was liken to a hummingbird. Really? Well, ok. I can see that.
Granted, I am not dainty and light as a whisper. I am not particularly fast and agile either. What I can recognize is the heart of the comparison is this: I am a high-energy person whose default is to be constant motion. I was asked to offer insight on my nature for the sake of another with the same temperament:
"What advice do you have for one who is a hummingbird like you?"
Embedded in the question are inquiries about the nature of stillness for those inclined to action.
Where does the balance exist between being and doing?
How does energy serve to allow for focus?
How much is too much doing? What do we lose and gain in the movement and likewise in the stillness?
What is the relational dynamic between stillness for conscious intention setting and buzzing energy to actionize intention and purpose?
I will attempt to distill what I know to be true for me into something that will serve each of us collectively as we strive to be in better harmony with our bodies, spirits and minds.
As I considered what other similarities exist between myself and a hummingbird, I dipped into a little fact finding. UC Davis offered a list of facts here and here are a few highlights:
Fascinating Facts about Hummingbirds
Their heart is the largest relative to all other animals.
Their metabolism is 100 times that of an elephant.
They can enter a state of inactivity called torpor, in which the birds reduce their body temperature to conserve energy.
The iridescence of hummingbird feathers is a result of prism-like microstructures that fragment light into components of the spectrum, by a process of absorption and angle of light. (This one is my favorite!)
The Challenge of Being Active Like the Hummingbird
What I know to be true for me is that with the gift of naturally high energy, I am challenged to
create time for both movement and stillness each day,
create and maintain focus,
convert raw energy into energy that opens up the best of me
What is your balanced articulation of motion and stillness in your day?
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