A time to follow your dreams…

On a hot October morning, I and my friend were sitting at the rocky shore of Vashi Creek. Facing the ever increasing heat on the beach devoid of any shade was proving to be tiresome. More so, as with passage of time, our chances of sighting the migrant waders, having arrived in the region recently, seemed to be diminishing.

Not that, the shore was without any activity. We could occassionaly sight some of the residents making a cameo-kind of appearances – Brahminy kite, Spot-billed ducks gave a few fly pasts while Munias, juvenile golden orioles, little kingfisher, zitting cisticolas and bee-eaters were busy in their early morning routines in tall grasses, mangroves and the trees. Long tailed shrikes, having arrived recently, were vociferously establishing their territories. Away in the sea, occasionally we could see a not so visible flock of waders moving like a phantom, but the shore where we were sitting – the rocks were barren and had stared emitting the heat. My patience was running out and yet something was holding us back.

And then, like the song of Abba – they came flying from the far away – a good size flock of small waders, their silvery bodies glistening in the sun rays  – a mix consisting of curlew sandpipers, stints, ruddy turnstones, and plovers.

Flying into our region from places as far as Siberia and Alaska, some still juveniles, these waders cover a distance of almost 10000 miles! While there continues to be a plethora of studies to understand the migration phenomenon, watching the entire flock of these little feathered bodies, I stood wondering about the tenacity, energy, courage and the risk taking ability of these waders.

As these, and many other migratory birds, move out of their safety zone, leave the known shores, I am sure somewhere in their intelligence they must be aware of the challenges that they would face in their zest for the sunnier climate. Crossing oceans, facing storms they fly onto a route imprinted in their brain genetically since generations. But never do they falter because of their belief in their own capabilties.

Yes! Without knowing about Zig Ziglar, these visitors epitomize his words - When obstacles arise, you change your direction to reach your goal; you do not change your decision to get there.

And I, just a few moments ago, was ready to retreat back into air-conditioned comfort and give up seeing such a wondrous sight. So here was yet another lesson learnt from the nature: You have to risk going too far to discover just how far you can really go!!

But most important was to comprehend the thought behind the words of Sergio F Bambaren:

There comes a time in life

When there is nothing else to do

But to go your own way.

A time to follow your dreams,

A time to raise the sails of

Your own beliefs.

Don’t let your fears stand in

The way of your dreams!

Here is a glimpse of these feathered friends as seen that morning.

http://acumenimages.blogspot.com/2010/10/time-to-follow-your-dreams.html

Wishing you all an inspired week ahead!

Cheers