HOW TO SOAR
Mar 01, 2025 01:17PM ● By Daniela Jaeger
Photo by Daniela J. Jaeger
Picture yourself better than you are now
I recently had one of these joyous moments while capturing the Parting Shot photo that you also see in the back of the Mar/Apr 2025 magazine. An impressive flock of birds was perched among the gnarled branches and palm fronds of this beautiful waterside refuge, and I had a feeling it would make a nice photo. Splashes of white from the feathers contrasted against the greens and browns of the surrounding foliage like clumps of snow on evergreen branches in some bucolic winter scene.
While I prepared my camera, all was very quiet. Then, little by little, the birds began calling out to one another. In minutes their simple chatter turned into a melodious crescendo, and they raised their wings as one and took flight. I grabbed my shot and then stood in awe as each bird lurched up from the water or off a perch and soared into the sky. Such strength and agility! A nearby pelican, inspired by all the clamor, joined the aerial wing-ding.
Birds don’t have to be reminded of their capabilities. But people do. We sometimes forget what we are capable of achieving. Just as birds have been built to fly, we have been built with everything we need to reach our goals.
Like those birds, we need only to remember our inner strength—that we can fly. We also must recognize that although being part of a flock is good, we can also fly alone if necessary. Sometimes, we need to handle things independently. The flock may not be there to lift us up, even when we need it. But we can still fly, and we can still reach higher heights.
Have you been relying too much on others to lift you up? You don’t need a flock to remind you that you can fly. You have been given wings and the strength to use them. When you believe in yourself, think positive about your abilities, and truly express your freedom, you will be amazed at how high you can fly!
If you’ve been inspired by that photo or by these words, I would love to hear from you. Feel free to contact me through social media, email, phone, or when you see me in the community.
Daniela J. Jaeger
One of the great wonders of life is how we can face difficult challenges one day and yet be filled with joy the next. Maybe that is how we are rewarded for persevering through the hard times. Sometimes, conflicting winds buffet a soaring bird, but there are also pockets of calm air that provide it with ease and rest.
I recently had one of these joyous moments while capturing the Parting Shot photo that you also see in the back of the Mar/Apr 2025 magazine. An impressive flock of birds was perched among the gnarled branches and palm fronds of this beautiful waterside refuge, and I had a feeling it would make a nice photo. Splashes of white from the feathers contrasted against the greens and browns of the surrounding foliage like clumps of snow on evergreen branches in some bucolic winter scene.
While I prepared my camera, all was very quiet. Then, little by little, the birds began calling out to one another. In minutes their simple chatter turned into a melodious crescendo, and they raised their wings as one and took flight. I grabbed my shot and then stood in awe as each bird lurched up from the water or off a perch and soared into the sky. Such strength and agility! A nearby pelican, inspired by all the clamor, joined the aerial wing-ding.
It’s hard to describe how that scene filled me with joy. Besides being able to take a great photo, I had witnessed something symbolic. Those birds taking flight reminded me of freedom, strength, confidence, and independence. How wonderful it must be to fly as high as you want to go.
Birds don’t have to be reminded of their capabilities. But people do. We sometimes forget what we are capable of achieving. Just as birds have been built to fly, we have been built with everything we need to reach our goals.
Like those birds, we need only to remember our inner strength—that we can fly. We also must recognize that although being part of a flock is good, we can also fly alone if necessary. Sometimes, we need to handle things independently. The flock may not be there to lift us up, even when we need it. But we can still fly, and we can still reach higher heights.
Have you been relying too much on others to lift you up? You don’t need a flock to remind you that you can fly. You have been given wings and the strength to use them. When you believe in yourself, think positive about your abilities, and truly express your freedom, you will be amazed at how high you can fly!
If you’ve been inspired by that photo or by these words, I would love to hear from you. Feel free to contact me through social media, email, phone, or when you see me in the community.
Be well, dear friends!
Group Publisher, TOTI Media
