own your authenticity

“The cardinal principle of life
is to follow the distinguished songbirds.“

By Heera Alaya

January 1st, 2021

A glorious sight awaited me one chilly winter morning. As part of my dawn ritual, I was stretching to the view of snow-covered barren woods with bright punctuations of winterberries. Schools of noisy sparrows had merged seamlessly with the bare trees.

To my delight, a bright red cardinal flew by, floating over the sea of browns and whites, eventually perching amid the sparrows. The cardinal stood out against the bareness of the ashy-taupe winter landscape, where the noisy sparrows blended in. The cardinal, with his brilliant red plumage, had not lost himself in the crowd—he was representing himself—an individual.

In these moments, the precious cardinal nudged me to think deeply and appreciate my authenticity. Despite my journey of wreckage, I refused to become part of an inferior, hostile herd and refused to blend into society’s collective bleary background. I honour my authenticity.

This striking fluffy bird reassured me that the will to be yourself—regardless of your situation—is incredibly powerful. Emotional risk-taking is challenging; it’s also liberating. And since emotional risk-taking is an uphill task—you have to move against the winds of oppression that attempt to take you down—it demands stamina, commitment and self-worth to be an INDIVIDUAL.

That blissful morning, another crimson cardinal joined the bright red cardinal, imparting two more invaluable lessons. First, cardinal songbirds are few and far, and second, landscapes of darkness are vital for individual brightness to be showcased. The cardinal principle of life for individuals blessed with integrity is to follow the distinguished songbirds—own your authenticity and exercise your voice.

Read more: Foundation, Antique Lace and Eudaimonia.