Sitting and watching birds can help us understand the nature of preening feathers… essentially the “weeding out” of the ones that don’t feel “just right” or as effective, anymore. Perhaps areas that receive little twinges that let them know new growth is awaiting the area… if only someone made room, by removing the current “thing” blocking its potential placement or growth spot.
Each new year, we look in pondering of the proverbial New Year’s Resolutions. Some still do them; but, many have given up on a notably failed, antiquated notion or tradition of “days gone by.” Some folks do actually have success at making permanent changes in their lives, when beginning new years with this “time honored tradition.”
A few years ago, I began to compare a bird preening and a skin injury on a human or another mammal. How preening is intentional “ripping out of the old,” so to speak. Most skin injuries are unintentional, and they might bleed or ooze serous fluid until they stop. Often, there’s a need to apply pressure to make them stop. Some mammals will lick them, dogs and cats for example, that have active enzymes within their saliva to aid in wound cleansing and the swiftness in healing. Some folks like to rip off their old scabs, professing it will create a new one or quicker healing for them. Others will let the first scab alone; and, simply watch as it shrinks over time, on its own. “To each, his own…” as the adage goes.
When it comes to internal, non-physical wounds, they don’t often get the same attention in being as readily identified as our physical or superficial wounds. Yet, they are often the ones needing the greatest amount of tenderness and gentle, loving care to ensure new growth is not only taking place; but, it’s healthy, as well. If we don’t pay as much attention to the things wounding us on the inside and properly align our behaviors, routines, boundaries, nutrients, and self-care to honor how we’d like it to be healthy, rather than quick, easy, and painless… the unhealthiness we choose will resurface. The unhealthy habits will resurface until we give them the same attention I pray we strive to give children… towards raising productive, healthy members of society with a good moral compass, full of compassion; and, love for humanity. Maybe instead of concerning ourselves with fitting into man’s idea of what constitutes “a beautiful set of feathers” on another, we can focus inwardly. Maybe if we “heal” the wounds we are afraid to admit often guide us into feeling fear, guilt, shame, or inadequacy… we can let go of trying to pretend we can grow the feathers, the skin, the Gifts, skills, or talents of others… and live more into embracing and owning our own Divine path and Gifts.