“You must live in the present, launch yourself on every wave, find your eternity in each moment. Fools stand on their island of opportunities and look toward another land. There is no other land; there is no other life but this.”
~ Henry David Thoreau
I was in the garden early this morning doing some yoga. As I stretched up I spied a tiny birds nest, and then, a while later, a tiny bird. A silvereye.
I went closer, for a better look.
She had made her nest with all manner of grass, fibre, hair, and the shredded remains of perishing bags, scrounged fabric, and twists of rag.
What an important lesson that little bird can teach us. She didn’t wait for perfection. She didn’t wait for the best, organic natural ingredients.
This little bird built her nest from what she had. With hard work, innovation and trust, she wove together all kinds of crazy things in order to make a home before her babies came.
Often we get paralysed into inaction, waiting to start when the stars have aligned, or when we can afford grand and impressive, or when we’ve reached some lofty in-the-future and probably unattainable goal.
And we forget….
Small beginnings count.
In fact they count more than most, because they have purity of intention and momentum behind them.
Many wonderful things have come from humble and less-than-impressive starts.
So today, no matter what your dream, I urge you to begin right now, right here, with whatever you have to hand.
Much love to you, and some magical Fairy Dust for your dreams, Nicole xx
That Thoreau quote! So true. I have only figured this out relatively recently in my nearly 39 years…start where you are, use what you have, and magic will follow. So will hard work and occasional feelings of defeat and ‘what’s the use’ – but so what?
Just reached here …the fairy dust I mean…mmm feels good . Bless that little bird …what do we know ….
Cherryx
Everything I have created has come from starting small, and starting wherever is possible. In the last year I’ve launched 6 online programs and written 3 different books – 2 almost finished – as well as taking Creativity Lab to ten countries for live events. Next week I’m going to San Francisco for an adventure that has all kinds of unknown possibilities in the offering… Every single one of these things started as something tiny. A YES! <3
Yes! I needed to hear this today. Thank you for this post.
Again, another timely blog….. As usual….. What a coincidence 😉 Thank you very much Nicole! 😘
Thank you for this. It really spoke to me, I definitely felt like this was meant for me to read. Actually, most your posts have that effect on me. Sending much love your way.
Thanks Nicole : it can sometimes seem like you do not have what you need to start a task or face a problem – from getting your tyres changed to sorting out your health problems.
But maybe I can enjoy today and get started if I just chip away and rest.
A very inspiring post – thanks.
My impasse is often an idea for art, which used to stop me. So nowadays I just start with a little drawing and after that perhaps another tiddler until a idea pops up and off I go on a big work again. It’s that old adage that not everything has to be big and a show stopper, but the little ones often turn out to be gems too. Hope your friend’s Aunt is still on the road to recovery. Hope your weekend is relaxing – perhaps a dip in the ocean or a walk along the beach xxxx
Aaaahhhh…..I was wondering what that fine layer of sparkly stuff was on my computer! Thanks Nicole! 🙂
Thanks Nicole!
Your blog broke my resistance to starting.
Manuscript document created and 178 words now written.
It is time to make my mark as a writer, and thus I will write.
Love….Ura
Ura, I’m thrilled for you. Now keep going!!!
love the way the bird used what she/he found…I do try to do this…making “do” would be what some would call it…but, I totally love to make something from what I have on hand…being it cooking, decorating or my wardrobe…