PotteryclayLover

I’ve often thought that the greatest innovation in modern ceramics is not the electric kiln or powered wheel, but plastic. On pieces that take a long time to dry, a simple plastic cover assures both gradual drying and protection from uneven drying produced by exposure to drafts. But moisture from drying clay does have a tendency to condense inside the top of plastic coverings, often over-wetting delicate rims and details. It’s a good idea to place a layer of rags or paper towels between the clay and its plastic cover to trap condensation. Replacing these wet linings with dry ones regularly permits gradual drying and prevents exposure to drafts that cause uneven drying.

The clay drying process is, in many ways, more stressful to clay than the firing process. Uneven drying can lead to separation at small joints, and warped or cracked edges. While some clay bodies and forms are more vulnerable than others to these stresses, ensuring an even drying process before firing is always helpful.

Clay drying process – wrap edges!

Thinner and completely surrounded by air, edges are another vulnerable area where fast or uneven drying can cause warping and cracking. To protect thin edges, tear up plastic strips and place them on the rims of still-damp pots, slowing the drying process. Pottery with level rims can also be inverted to rest on its rim, effectively turning the whole piece into an edgeless closed form, though this can be hazardous for very delicate or not-quite-level rims.

clay drying process - 5Nothing is more frustrating than throwing your first bowl or forming your first teapot, only to see it break or warp during drying. It’s worth your time and trouble to protect your work while it dries to insure your

pottery making success.

So, remember:

1. When drying pottery, place a plastic cover over your pots.

2. Uneven drying causes tension that can crack handles and rims.

3. Dry pots upside down to even out the drying process.

The previous attempts — making pinch pots, scoring and attaching coils, working at the rambunctious wheel — had begun with me centered, and then centered me even further.

Were these  hours fun like those other days? Nope. Did I risk getting clay all over my Phone by taking proud pictures? No, as I’d made nothing and the only thing to photograph was my corner of the room, slathered in wayward clay. Still, this new adventure has already succeeded beyond my wildest expectations.

I wanted to get out of my head and into my body, to silence the jabbering “monkey mind” that Buddhists warn make one unsettled, restless, confused. Swimming has always done that for me by counting laps: “One, one, one. Two, two, two. Three, three, three…” to crowd out thinking. Clay could quiet me, too, or send an instant signal that I was in a bad place, that I needed to slow myself down, breathe, control the clay, and let the wheel do its work.

Like a balancing pose in yoga, ceramics provides a perfect feedback loop: exit your body and enter your busy mind, and you will likely teeter and fall. Or, in this case, try to bully the clay with strength, not stillness, and it turns into a guided missile rather than a bowl.

The saving grace of this last hour was that it nudged me in this direction of learning. It provided welcome calm, however belated, not at the wheel but at the sink. There, long after the others had gone, I was still washing the splash pan and a dozen tools I had used that were now unrecognizable under the gobs of clay.

As hot water ran over my hands, and I squeezed sponge after sponge until one was clean enough to scrub my work area, my breathing slowed and my shoulders unclenched and moved away from my ears.

Off days. We all have them from time to time.

Maybe you didn't sleep well the night before, or perhaps you're working on a project that isn't particularly exciting. Or maybe there's no viable explanation at all, and you're just straight up not feelin' it that day.

First of all, that's OK. We can't be on all the time. Motivation is an ebb and flow: We all have periods of high energy where productivity comes easily, as well as periods of low energy where your work doesn't come so easily.

10 Ways to Get Motivated When You're Exhausted

1) Just get started.

Have you ever found yourself faced with a deadline or a looming task, only to realize that was the perfect time to clean your house or start a new season of 24? Turns out, that's your brain playing tricks on you.

A study by Dr. John Bargh, an award-winning psychology researcher, showed that, before we start on a big project, our brain attempts to simulate real, productive work by focusing on small, mindless tasks. The result? We don't get started on the tasks that are most meaningful. And the longer we procrastinate, the more anxious we feel.

That's why, sometimes, we don't need a particular thing to motivate us -- we just need to get started, and a more focused and productive mental state will follow.

2) Make or rework your to-do list. (The right way.)

When your energy is low, it can be hard to get in that get-stuff-done mindset. So when you feel yourself dragging, stop what you're doing and take a few minutes to either make a new to-do list or rework the one you already have.

After all, studies show that when we write down our goals, we're more likely to achieve them. This small step can not only help your productivity, but it can also help get rid of that uncomfortable, anxious feeling you get when you procrastinate.

To get started, think about what part of that broken-down task you can accomplish right now or today, and begin working on it with the more manageable and achievable goal in mind.

3) Commit publicly.

Accountability works. None of us likes to look bad in front of others. Chances are, if you've promised to do something publicly, you'll be more likely to achieve it. That's why so many people do things like create public blogs or Instagram accounts to hold themselves accountable for fitness and weight loss goals.

You don't have to go public with your goals to reap the benefits of accountability. You can do it with coworkers, or with friends and family.

4) Change up your location.

According to Duhigg's research, your physical environment is one of the most powerful drivers of our habits and behaviors.

Where you work can affect your motivation levels. Duhigg says this might be because we mentally assign behaviors, habits, and routines to particular locations, like bed for sleeping, desk for working, couch for relaxing. (Another reason taking your lunch break away from your desk can do wonders for your productivity.)

Need to really focus? Step away from your desk, move to a workspace with no distractions, and hone in on whatever it is you need to do. That's what Amanda Sibley, a demand generation manager at HubSpot, told me works for her: "If there is something I must get done in a day -- a deck due to our CMO, for example -- then I turn off email and shut myself in a room for an hour or so until it's done."

5) Listen to pump-up music.

Music motivates us. Think about it: Why do people listen to music when they go to the gym? Because it gives us energy.

We don't just have an emotional reaction when we listen to music; we also have a physical reaction. Music engages our bodies' sympathetic nervous systems. Our airway opens, our heart accelerates, and our muscles become primed for movement. When the speed, intensity, or volume of the music rises, our pulse quickens and our breathing accelerates.

This is great for physical exercise, of course. But it's also great for reenergizing you when you're feeling tired or bored. Not only will it help refocus you, but studies have shown that music can help draw our attention away from the negative aspects of whatever task we're doing.

So the next time you're tackling something that doesn't quite thrill you, consider putting on some happy tunes. If you need some music ideas, try one of these science-backed productivity playlists.

6) Meditate.

Listening to pump-up jams not your cup of tea? Perhaps meditating is.

It's funny: We rest our aching muscles after a tough workout without a second thought, and yet we expect our brain to work hour after hour, day in and day out. It just doesn't make sense. Burnout is real, folks.

Taking ten or twenty minutes out of your workday to meditate is a great way to use a break time -- especially when you find your attention and motivation wavering. According to one study, intensive meditation can help you focus and sustain your attention -- even during the most boring of tasks. It also helps boost your mood: A 2012 study found that people who mediated "stayed on tasks longer and made fewer task switches, as well as reporting less negative feedback after task performance."

Never meditated before? You don't need any experience to enjoy the benefits of meditation -- especially with the many apps out there that offer guided meditations. Next time you feel disconnected or unmotivated at work, try using one of these free apps:

7) Talk to a coworker. (Or talk to yourself.)

Sometimes, taking a short break to talk with a colleague can be enough to reenergize you for several more hours. In a study of call center workers, those who talked to more coworkers in between calls actually got through calls faster and felt less stressed -- all while having the same approval ratings as their peers.

If you just need a break from the task at hand, grab a coworker and talk a short walk. If you need some inspiration, choose that coworker wisely, and use the time to bounce ideas off of them. If you're really struggling, try asking them for advice on how to refocus or reprioritize.

“People are used to receiving and giving advice in the second-person, and they seem to prefer using the second-person pronoun to psych themselves up before engaging in action,” study coauthor Dr. Sanda Dolcos told The Huffington Post. “Self-advice expressed using ‘You’ probably enables people to adopt a broader perspective, considering how a significant other might view the event, and to reproduce the kind of encouragements previously received from others.”

8) Eat an energy-boosting snack.

Food is fuel for our brains and our bodies. What we eat -- and when we eat it -- has a direct impact on our performance at work. Recent studies show that willpower is a limited resource and depletes throughout the day, but may be strengthened by the food we eat.

9) Move your body.

Whether it's spending some quality time at the gym or simply going for a short walk between meetings, regular exercise can do wonders for your health, your happiness, and your productivity and energy levels at work. In fact, researchers have found that people who exercise during normal working hours are actually more productive at work, even if they technically log fewer hours.

“A lot of people are overworked and not sleeping enough,” said Patrick O’Connor, co-director of the university’s exercise psychology laboratory. “Exercise is a way for people to feel more energetic. There’s a scientific basis for it, and there are advantages to it compared to things like caffeine and energy drinks.”

10) Take a power nap.

Another way to unleash your brain's natural energy? Take a power nap. Researchers have found there are clear benefits to napping, including increased alertness after your nap. The key is doing it right. In other words, napping for the right amount of time, and at the right time of day.

My dad who is everything to me a friend, backbone support every time, teacher, adviser , brother etc etc. I know every girl child have same opinion as me, because every  girl first love is his dad. We belong from a medium class family but my dad never stop me to do anything even at every step when i  have chances of falling down they were there to protect me.

    When i was in my school i never know that i would get chance to  write this for my dad so i can say them thanks . thanks for everything what they did for me because if i would be at his place , may be i'm not able to do same. They were always there with me when its my first day of college , first day of job or first day  when i mentioned for my business dream, without a single question they said , "I'm with you always".

    In this corona pandemic when i ask for his approval for buying a pottery wheel to just fulfill my hobby , they said yes like every time . Even though i was not that much sure because its time to get settle in life but they don't even question my hobby . It's his opinion there is no benchmark for learning , you can start at any time, if you wish to. Just like a best buddy he always respect my thoughts and opinion. And this behavior and support of my family always forced me to question myself that will i get same  support and response from my life partner. But who knows ?

 And loose hope that for this year forming a clay pot is not possible but why not i opt for some other handmade gift. So when i am passing from a potter shop , my eyes glanced on a ready made pot so without a single thought i just bought it , and than i paint it just like i do when i was kid.

Pottery is art which is basically for those , who are perfectionist in passion . But no doubt i am never that person who have passion to hold for months and month to get one perfect structure . But i always love to play with clay and mostly love to create something best by using clay. So with mom dad moral support i brought my first pottery wheel and start to practice on it. When i first grab clay ball i never know that forming something on wheel would require that much courage and passion.

  But i always want to do this , and truly I don't even have that much time to spend on it but every morning after my tea , i start to spend some time on my wheel . So morning half n hour time is best moment of day , as for that period I'm totally a different person. almost 3 months have been passed but i never forget to take out half n hour time for me only with my pottery wheel. Even in 3 month period only 1 or 2 time i get specific shape but I don't have any regret. but with every passing of day i feel more positive as i am on the way to do something.

One thing is very clear that this is kind of therapy for me, because whenever I'm feeling low , i don't need anyone to calm me down, but i need my pottery wheel to let the stress flow out of me.

           Citrine Wagtail ( Scientific Name : Motacilla citreola) is a small passerine bird which is a local resident of Himalayas and widespread winter visitor in India.  It is also known as  Yellow-hooded Wagtail. It is called "citrine" due  to its yellowish coloration.

How to Identify Citrine Wagtail

         It is slender in shape and about 19-20 cm long and weight is approx. 18-25 g. It is easily recognized due to the habits of constantly wagging of its long tail which is a characteristic of the genus Motacilla.  Breeding male has bright yellow head and underpart, contrasting with black collar and gray back. Hindneck and upper mantle are black, extending onto the sides of the breast. The rump is darker grey and the The long tail is black with white outer pairs of rectrices. The undertail-coverts are paler, mostly yellowish white.  The bill is black. The eyes are dark brown. Legs and feet are blackish-brown.

        The non-breeding male is duller, with grey to dark olive-grey hindcrown to mantle and scapulars. It may show light dark mottling above and the yellow areas are paler.

The adult female Citrine Wagtail is looks like to non-breeding male. Except the breeding season, she is duller overall with greyer upperparts. The yellow areas are paler, breast sides and flanks are grey but the belly is whiter.

        The young Citrine Wagtail  resembles juvenile Western Yellow Wagtail, but it has broader supercilium, broader and whiter wingbars and whitish secondary’s edges, not yellowish.

The immature lacks yellow in plumage and is more buff and greyer than non-breeding female, with breast sides and flanks tinged olive-brown.

Habits and Habitats

         Natural habitats is variety of moist areas with pools and streams, brackish lagoons and coastal marshes during nonbreeding season.

Food

        Main food of  Citrine Wagtail  is aquatic invertebrates and their larvae e.g Odonata ,Coleoptera, Diptera  and spiders.

        It forages by picking items from ground or water surface, and it wades in shallow water up to belly, or walks on floating leaves and vegetation. It also hunts the preys disturbed by cattle by walking around and between the legs of the animals. While picking, the bird may sometimes plunge the head into the water while searching for insect larvae.

        It also catches insects by flycatching, or catch then in flight with a brief upwards flutter.

This species breeds from sea-level up to 4600 metres of elevation.

Distribution

        The Citrine Wagtail has three recognized subspecies as below:

       M. c. citreola  or Northern Citrine Wagtail are found in  North  Europe (Finland, N Russia) East to Central Siberia, Transbaikalia, Mongolia and North-East China. In winters, they are found mainly in Indian Subcontinent, also South-East Asia.

      M.c. werae breeds in East Europe, in S Baltic Republics and East Poland, Belarus and Ukraine E to Russian Altai, North and East of  Kazakhstan and North-West China. It winters it is found in Indian Subcontinent and South-East Asia.

In this race, the male has purer grey back than M. c. citreola, the underparts are paler and the flanks less grey.

      M. c. calcarata or Southern Citrine Wagtail are distributed in East Iran, Afghanistan, and Central Asian mountains from Tien Shan East to Central China  and South to North Himalayas. In winters they are found in lowlands from South Afghanistan East to Myanmar. In this species, the male has all-black upperparts. Head and underparts are deeper yellow and extend to the undertail-coverts. The tertials show broader and whiter edges, and the greater coverts are usually white. The outer rectrices have more black on inner webs. The female may have dark spots on the upperparts, and she has longer bill and legs.

Call

           The Citrine Wagtail’s typical call resembles that of the Western Yellow Wagtail but it is harsher, louder and slightly shorter, a more rasping, slurred “dzreeip” or “tzreep”. It utters sometimes a double “zielip”.

The song is usually given from perch or during short flight, a repeated calling interspersed with warbling phrases.

 Food

           The Citrine Wagtail feeds mainly on aquatic invertebrates and their larvae, including Odonata (adult and larvae), Coleoptera (beetle larvae), Diptera (adult and larvae), and spiders.

It forages by picking items from ground or water surface, and it wades in shallow water up to belly, or walks on floating leaves and vegetation. It also hunts the preys disturbed by cattle by walking around and between the legs of the animals. While picking, the bird may sometimes plunge the head into the water while searching for insect larvae.

It also catches insects by flycatching, or snatches then in flight with a brief upwards flutter.

wagtail-citrine-blogger-kolkata-blogspot-com

 Breeding and Nesting

             The Citrine Wagtail breeds in wet meadows, marshy tundra with willow thickets, mountain meadows and generally in wet areas including marshes and edges of lakes. This species breeds from sea-level up to 4600 metres of elevation.The Citrine Wagtail is monogamous and territorial during the breeding season. It can become very aggressive against intruders during breeding season and shows aggressive  displays. They body  puff up their body plumage and raise the tail  and direct it towards intruders.

            The male performs a courtship flight display. They fly into the air before descending while singing. During the descent, wings and tail are vibrating. Other displays can be observed with quivering outspread wings. Both adults share the nesting duties.

            The breeding season takes place between late April and June in N, mostly May/August in SE for the race M.c. calcarata. Two broods are usually laid.

             The female builds a cup-shaped nest on the ground or in thick vegetation with moss, leaves and stems, and the cup is lined with softer material such as feathers, hair and wool. Most entrances faced south-east. The mean external diameter of nests is 10.1 cm, the internal diameter is 6.3 wide and 6.8 cm long  and the mean depth of cup is 3.9 cm.

           Citrine Wagtail ( Scientific Name : Motacilla citreola) is a small passerine bird which is a local resident of Himalayas and widespread winter visitor in India.  It is also known as  Yellow-hooded Wagtail. It is called "citrine" due  to its yellowish coloration.

How to Identify Citrine Wagtail

         It is slender in shape and about 19-20 cm long and weight is approx. 18-25 g. It is easily recognized due to the habits of constantly wagging of its long tail which is a characteristic of the genus Motacilla.  Breeding male has bright yellow head and underpart, contrasting with black collar and gray back. Hindneck and upper mantle are black, extending onto the sides of the breast. The rump is darker grey and the The long tail is black with white outer pairs of rectrices. The undertail-coverts are paler, mostly yellowish white.  The bill is black. The eyes are dark brown. Legs and feet are blackish-brown.

        The non-breeding male is duller, with grey to dark olive-grey hindcrown to mantle and scapulars. It may show light dark mottling above and the yellow areas are paler.

The adult female Citrine Wagtail is looks like to non-breeding male. Except the breeding season, she is duller overall with greyer upperparts. The yellow areas are paler, breast sides and flanks are grey but the belly is whiter.

        The young Citrine Wagtail  resembles juvenile Western Yellow Wagtail, but it has broader supercilium, broader and whiter wingbars and whitish secondary’s edges, not yellowish.

The immature lacks yellow in plumage and is more buff and greyer than non-breeding female, with breast sides and flanks tinged olive-brown.

Habits and Habitats

         Natural habitats is variety of moist areas with pools and streams, brackish lagoons and coastal marshes during nonbreeding season.

Food

        Main food of  Citrine Wagtail  is aquatic invertebrates and their larvae e.g Odonata ,Coleoptera, Diptera  and spiders.

        It forages by picking items from ground or water surface, and it wades in shallow water up to belly, or walks on floating leaves and vegetation. It also hunts the preys disturbed by cattle by walking around and between the legs of the animals. While picking, the bird may sometimes plunge the head into the water while searching for insect larvae.

        It also catches insects by flycatching, or catch then in flight with a brief upwards flutter.

This species breeds from sea-level up to 4600 metres of elevation.

Distribution

        The Citrine Wagtail has three recognized subspecies as below:

       M. c. citreola  or Northern Citrine Wagtail are found in  North  Europe (Finland, N Russia) East to Central Siberia, Transbaikalia, Mongolia and North-East China. In winters, they are found mainly in Indian Subcontinent, also South-East Asia.

      M.c. werae breeds in East Europe, in S Baltic Republics and East Poland, Belarus and Ukraine E to Russian Altai, North and East of  Kazakhstan and North-West China. It winters it is found in Indian Subcontinent and South-East Asia.

In this race, the male has purer grey back than M. c. citreola, the underparts are paler and the flanks less grey.

      M. c. calcarata or Southern Citrine Wagtail are distributed in East Iran, Afghanistan, and Central Asian mountains from Tien Shan East to Central China  and South to North Himalayas. In winters they are found in lowlands from South Afghanistan East to Myanmar. In this species, the male has all-black upperparts. Head and underparts are deeper yellow and extend to the undertail-coverts. The tertials show broader and whiter edges, and the greater coverts are usually white. The outer rectrices have more black on inner webs. The female may have dark spots on the upperparts, and she has longer bill and legs.

Call

           The Citrine Wagtail’s typical call resembles that of the Western Yellow Wagtail but it is harsher, louder and slightly shorter, a more rasping, slurred “dzreeip” or “tzreep”. It utters sometimes a double “zielip”.

The song is usually given from perch or during short flight, a repeated calling interspersed with warbling phrases.

 Food

           The Citrine Wagtail feeds mainly on aquatic invertebrates and their larvae, including Odonata (adult and larvae), Coleoptera (beetle larvae), Diptera (adult and larvae), and spiders.

It forages by picking items from ground or water surface, and it wades in shallow water up to belly, or walks on floating leaves and vegetation. It also hunts the preys disturbed by cattle by walking around and between the legs of the animals. While picking, the bird may sometimes plunge the head into the water while searching for insect larvae.

It also catches insects by flycatching, or snatches then in flight with a brief upwards flutter.

wagtail-citrine-blogger-kolkata-blogspot-com

 Breeding and Nesting

             The Citrine Wagtail breeds in wet meadows, marshy tundra with willow thickets, mountain meadows and generally in wet areas including marshes and edges of lakes. This species breeds from sea-level up to 4600 metres of elevation.The Citrine Wagtail is monogamous and territorial during the breeding season. It can become very aggressive against intruders during breeding season and shows aggressive  displays. They body  puff up their body plumage and raise the tail  and direct it towards intruders.

            The male performs a courtship flight display. They fly into the air before descending while singing. During the descent, wings and tail are vibrating. Other displays can be observed with quivering outspread wings. Both adults share the nesting duties.

            The breeding season takes place between late April and June in N, mostly May/August in SE for the race M.c. calcarata. Two broods are usually laid.

             The female builds a cup-shaped nest on the ground or in thick vegetation with moss, leaves and stems, and the cup is lined with softer material such as feathers, hair and wool. Most entrances faced south-east. The mean external diameter of nests is 10.1 cm, the internal diameter is 6.3 wide and 6.8 cm long  and the mean depth of cup is 3.9 cm.

Finches are tiny birds, so it can be easy to overlook them. However, these little beauties are among the most popular and widely kept types of pet birds in the world, so it's safe to say that many prefer them to larger bird species such as parrots and parakeets. If you'd like to learn more about these little birds, then take a look at the information listed below. You might just learn something about finches that you didn't know before!

Finches are the perfect alternative for those wanting a feathered pet but not prepared to take on the challenges of caring for a parrot. Finches don’t talk and are hands-off birds, but they delight their owners with their aerial antics and social interactions with one another.

Finches Are Very Social Birds

All captive pet birds need some form of socialization to thrive in human homes, and for many species, that comes with forming a special bond with their human caretakers. Finches, however, prefer to do things a little bit differently. While there are exceptions to the rule, in general, finches largely prefer the company of other finches to that of a human companion. For this reason, it is normally recommended that they are kept in pairs or small flocks, as opposed to being kept singly. Birds who are kept alone with no means of companionship often become unhealthy and mentally and emotionally unstable.

Finches Generally Don't Like to Be Handled

Unlike parrots, who should be handled every day, finches tend to not do very well with human handling. While there are always exceptions, it is generally recommended that those who keep finches touch them as little as possible, to avoid frightening the birds and causing them stress. While it is common for finches to become accustomed to observing their human housemates from a distance, most of them never quite get comfortable enough to perch on a person's finger or be willingly handled in any way. For your finch's health, keep handling limited to what is necessary for the bird's health and medical care.

Finches Are Among the Smallest Commonly Kept Pet Bird Specie

While there are many different types of small birds that are commonly kept as pets, finches are among the smallest of them all! Most finch species are less than 4 inches in length from the beak to the end of the tailfeathers and may weigh less than 1 ounce. Many would think that this should make them the perfect bird for small, cozy homes, but in actuality, a small flock of finches may require an even bigger cage than some types of parrots. This is because finches must be able to fly, so they need a spacious enclosure or flight cage that can allow them to soar and exercise their wings.

Finches Are Very Quiet

While finches vocalize as much or more as other types of commonly kept pet birds, they have tiny voices that do not carry as far as those of larger birds, such as parrots. For this reason, finches are a great choice for bird lovers who live in apartments or condominiums. The pleasant chips of a small finch flock can often not be heard outside of the room that the birds are housed in, but many who own finches claim that their soft vocalizations are quite soothing, and choose to spend as much time in the same room with their birds as possible.

Native Region / Natural Habitat

The estrildid finches, such as the zebra finch, Gouldian finch, owl finch and society finch, are native to Australasia.

Care & Feeding

Finches need spacious housing, especially since they spend most, if not all, of their time inside their enclosure. These birds should remain fully flighted instead of having trimmed wing feathers. A horizontal cage is a must (as opposed to a vertical cage). Finches are flock animals and thrive when housed with other finches (do not house a finch with a parrot because a parrot can injure a finch). If you house pairs of finches together, be prepared for possible offspring, especially if the finches are provided a nest (small wicker-basket) and nesting material.

A finch will thrive on a pelleted base diet, such as Lafeber’s Premium Daily Diet specifically designed for finches, supplemented with fresh greens and other vegetables, grubs, eggfood and some seed.

Personality & Behavior

Finches are popular as companion pets because of their pleasant sounds and social interactions with their flock mates, and, in the case of the Gouldian finch, their dazzling coloration. They are mostly hands-off pet birds; instead preferring to be with other of their kind.

Speech & Sound

Finches are not capable of emitting the ear-splitting screeches of parrots and therefore might make a good choice for those with close neighbors. Their vocalizations are mostly “peep” and “meep” sounds, typically by the males. Their calls/songs can be persistent at times and finches spend a large portion of their day vocally communicating with one another.

Health & Common Conditions

Seagulls are the most inspirational creatures in my opinion. If I owned a sporting team of any sort, a seagull would be my mascot. Why? They’re the perfect combination of beauty, strong-will, friendliness and confidence. Though i personally never watched any seagull bird from close , but i love to watch bird from distance because i dont want to disturb their  peace. But it always feel me with positive when i see group of birds eating , flying and all their activity. It is best therapy for me and its from very earlier .

Who of us has not wondered, at some point in life, if we really are living to our fullest potential? That we are really experiencing all that we are capable of experiencing?Every human being has been given the capacity to live abundantly, without boundaries. But the scope of this freedom is too large for most of us. We cringe from the vastness of all that is possible. We prefer to hide behind artificial limitations instead.

We hear of the frog in the pond that steadfastly refuses to believe that there were limitless oceans out there. For him, his pond is all that there is in the world. We also hear of the worm in the apple who believes that the whole world is its apple, nothing more.

Some of you may be familiar with the famous book Jonathon Livingston Seagull written by Richard Bach. A tale about a seagull who has dreams of being a better version of himself and flying higher and faster than any gull has ever dared before. Cast out by the flock for being different he goes off on his spiritual quest to discover his full potential. Does any of this resonate with you by any chance?

In real life many people hate seagulls. Maybe you do too. Are they the thugs of the bird world? Pests to be poisoned and driven out? Let’s be honest they have a terrible reputation because they are noisy and fearless they can appear aggressive and given the chance they will steal your food.

This little ode to seagulls may seem peculiar to you but as a result of long hours of observing them for days, I realized that inspiration can come from the simplest of things.

Have you ever heard of the expression ‘thinking out of the box?’ It means going beyond the accepted limits of imagination and daring to explore new possibilities. Jonathan Livingston Seagull was such an out-of-the-box thinker.

He discovered that for those who dare to dream, even the sky is not the limit. Jonathan lived as all seagulls do – in a flock. This flock was quite unremarkable. Seagulls are basically scavengers that inhabit the seashore, feeding off the debris that the sea throws out. Like all other seagulls, the members of this flock fed, bred and flew south in the cold winter months.

My love for these tiny birdies increased many folds when they actually taught me some valuable life lessons.

1. Don’t be afraid to stand against the wind

Look at this little fellow. He’s tiny and the wind that day was so strong even I was having trouble standing. He could just turn around and fly in the direction of the wind. But he stood his ground accepting the challenge.

Lesson: No matter how much friction you’re facing in being different or being yourself, don’t let it make you turn around in the direction of the wind.

2. Sometimes it’s good to go with the flow

If someone knows how to chill and take it easy, its the seagulls. They’ve taught me to not ALWAYS take life so seriously. That we can’t control each and every aspect of it. Sometimes you just have to let life unfold itself. See where the current takes you.

After all what’s the fun in knowing it all?

3. Evolve with your life situations

Seagulls are the masters of improvising and adapting to their circumstances. They can swim, fly or walk around depending on their need. We as humans have to realize that we are more equipped than a seagull. We have better means, internal and external, to adhere to our circumstances. We just need to be as strong-willed and easy going as a seagull.

Jonathan Livingston Seagull is a simple story with a profound message.

The message is that we can all be so much more than we believe, or are given to believe. That God – or fortune, if you wish – is on the side of the bold, the adventurous and the free in spirit.

Have you ever heard of the expression ‘thinking out of the box?’ It means going beyond the accepted limits of imagination and daring to explore new possibilities. Jonathan Livingston Seagull was such an out-of-the-box thinker.

He discovered that for those who dare to dream, even the sky is not the limit. Jonathan lived as all seagulls do – in a flock. This flock was quite unremarkable. Seagulls are basically scavengers that inhabit the seashore, feeding off the debris that the sea throws out. Like all other seagulls, the members of this flock fed, bred and flew south in the cold winter months.

But Jonathan sensed, in the core of his being, that there could be more to life. Much more.

4. Never be afraid to ask for your right

Anyone who has had a meal by the beach knows that the seagulls will come flocking around for their share. They are not afraid to ask for it. They’ll stand by staring at you persistently until you go, ‘oh well alright, have a chip.’

Deep in its communal heart, the flock knew that it was living below its full potential. It consoled itself with a vaguely remembered Promise, passed down various generations of seagulls. That Promise spoke of a Great Seagull – a supernaturally gifted bird that would come and deliver it from the chains of self-imposed mediocrity.

The Great Seagull was supposed to have secrets of limitless flight and a superior existence.

That discovering the Great Seagull’s secrets could have been the result of diligent effort and seeking did not occur to these seagulls. They preferred to put the responsibility of their future on a Being which they did not understand and did not try to emulate. The Great Seagull, however, did not come.

But maybe – just maybe – every seagull in that flock sometimes wondered if it was they were missing the point of this legend …

Jonathan had heard of the Great Seagull, of course. It meant nothing to him, but there was a question that did haunt him – the question that haunts us all when we have nothing to distract ourselves with. The question we ask ourselves when, for some reason or the other, we find ourselves sleepless at night.

Can I fly higher? Can I fly farther? Is there more?

The flock asked itself no such questions. The mundane preoccupations of life had them too much in thrall to consider deeper questions. But Jonathan knew that he could drink deeper of life than they did.

One day, he announced that he intended to fly higher and further than any seagull before him. The effect of his words on the flock was interesting, to say the least:

“Seagulls are not meant to fly higher than this,” is what they said. “What makes you think you’re different from us?”

That is the persistence and determination you and I need in your daily life. Ask for that promotion at work. Ask for the love and attention in a relationship. You deserve it.

5. It’s your character that makes you beautiful

Seagulls are not camera shy and are always ready to strike a pose. The poker face is their favourite. There are thousands of exquisite birds in the world but what made me fall in love with seagulls is their character. Sure they are nice to look at but it’s their confidence, strength and playful persona that makes them beautiful.

Jonathan’s answer was that he was not content with mediocrity, especially if he knew that he could attain greater heights. The rest of the flock became very angry with him – they called him a dreamer who did not know the realities of life. When he insisted on pursuing his vision, they cast him out of the flock.

Doesn’t this ring a bell in most of our minds? Doesn’t it remind us of times when we have been told – or even told ourselves – that we should realize our limits? Well, who sets those limits?

The human being has limited capabilities – but then, we only think of the capabilities we have actually demonstrated. We never think of the possibility of hidden capabilities that never see the light of day because they are not called upon.

Have you never heard of the true-life stories of people who overcame impossible odds – achieved impossible tasks – when they stopped relying solely on what they knew about themselves?

Jonathan Livingston Seagull, that anonymous bird in an anonymous flock, decided that he wanted to claim the Promise now. He wanted the power to fly higher than he had ever flown, to see sights he had never seen.

He decided that if the Great Seagull was real enough and powerful enough, it would help him achieve these goals in the Here and Now. Not in some vaguely conceived Hereafter, but in real time. In this present lifetime.

Did he turn to the Great Seagull in prayer? Or did he just draw inspiration from the fact that such a Seagull could and did exist? Richard Bach’s book remains silent on this issue. But from the moment Jonathan decided to claim the Promise, his life changed drastically.

Are you now waiting for the part where Jonathan was suddenly given miraculous spiritual and physical powers to make his dreams of impossible flight come true? Sorry, that is not what happened…

Instead, Jonathan’s belief in the Promise convinced him that the power to achieve his dream would be given to him if he put in diligent effort. He was a changed bird – he suddenly felt that he was no longer alone. And so he practiced flying higher. It was a painstaking process, but something had changed.

He no longer despaired when he considered his feeble seagull wings. He no longer doubted when he considered the fact that no seagull had ever flown as high as he wanted to fly.

This new-found assurance was not what is commonly known as ‘self-confidence’. It was confidence in something beyond him – a Higher Power, if you will. He called it the Great Seagull. Some call it God. But whatever we call it, it is a Power outside of ourselves. We cannot generate it, but we can still claim it.

And guess what? Jonathan Livingston Seagull soared. He eventually flew higher than any seagull ever had. And he finally met the Great Seagull.

Yes, he actually met the legendary Being. He basked in its approval and was given the power and privilege to lead others from the barren, empty path of self-effort to a mind-bogglingly rewarding partnership with Something Better.

I have a feeling that the human version of seagulls would have an amazing sense of humour as well.