Jump- or I'll push you...

I like to push people off of cliffs. No really, I do; not to watch them tumble to their deaths but rather to witness the new found freedom as they spread their wings and realize that in spite of all they previously thought about themselves- they really can fly.

I am a mom who pushes my kids because I know they are stronger than they think. Likewise, it takes a true friend to push someone to reach their potential. If they didn't care; they wouldn't waste their time. The best moms encourage their children to find themselves and the best friends accept us for who we are but don't allow us to stay that way for too long.

That said, we were not born to be dependent on any one person. From the very beginning- our life depends on whether or not we've got what it takes to take that first breath. Because some of us are so wrecked with shock that we are naked in a room full of strangers smiling at us- we need a little help and that's when one of them whack's us in the bum to get us started. Sure, mom feeds us and changes us while making googly faces but that's only for a season- it's not cute much longer than a few months but it's not just for her good but for our own. We barely get the hang of crawling and she's pushing for us to walk; we learn how to babble and she's coaching us to say her name and we no sooner get comfortable with the mess we did in our diaper only to have her running us to the potty every 10 minutes- while giving us endless juices to ensure the progress!

We may not always like it; fear of change is something we all experience. Sometimes we think of the bruises we might get because we can't see anything beyond the branches that stand ready to break our fall. Sometimes we don't know how to fly in different types of weather but you never know what you can accomplish until you start flapping your wings.

Every person born to this earth has the potential to learn and grow. This will be different for each individual (after all, penguins may dress nice but they still can't fly) but it's important to remember that we are unique and should embrace our strengths. What works for one isn't right for another. Some birds like the oceans and beaches while others prefer ponds. Don't look at what you can't do and look at what you CAN! Penguins can't fly but they can survive temperatures below freezing (and some can dance but that's a whole other documentary). Our nests provide safety and comfort but what's the point of living if we never get the chance to live?

If I seem pushy it's not because you take up too much room on the cliff but because the skies are endless and I want you to experience them! Just think of how inconvenient it would be to still be wearing diapers; aren't you glad somebody filled you with juice and pushed you to the potty? You have potential; I see it and I will do what it takes to help you see it too. But don't wait for me or anyone else to dictate your flight; the first time I'll kindly nudge but after that I'll start shoving, sneak up behind you and knock your legs out from under you- I'll do it if that's what it takes for you to get the courage. Real friends won't let you stand there for long. They'll prod and push and then glide down to coach you in every step until you are flying higher and further than before. I will make sure you're ready but I'm going to push you- be sure of that- and you will have two options; you can fall aimlessly while glaring me down and shouting obscenities or you can put your head against the wind and test your wings.

That is what separates us from the birds. We have intelligence, we have reasoning and we have purpose (though I thank all creatures for lending themselves as themes for my blogs). If we stand where we are, we won't see what's only a few steps away and there is so much world to enjoy. You may not remember the first time you tasted chocolate but I assure you it was a definitive moment and a big step up from the bottle and mashed beans. Don't be the one thing that holds you back. Go out and live! Start with the small mountains and work your way up- but never stop climbing!

... And the next time you find yourself standing at the edge of a cliff desperately wanting to jump but are terrified of what bumps you might get on the way down; know that you don't have to settle or be afraid. Take that leap and remember that you were born to fly!