I found true wisdom in an unlikely place
As I’m standing here looking out over the sport fishing area in San Diego Harbor, I can’t help but stop and just take it all in. It’s early, the water’s calm, the sun’s coming up, and all around me the bay’s waking up too. The little birds – from the tiny Ingrids skipping across the water to the big ol’ pelicans and those loud-mouth seagulls – they’re all out there doing their thing, hunting for breakfast. And somehow, it all just works.
What really gets me is how these creatures move together. No one’s running the show. The pelican dives hard and comes up with a fish, the smaller birds scatter for a second, then slip right back into their rhythm. The gulls circle around looking for scraps, everyone keeps their lane. It’s chaos, but it’s also kind of poetry. Nothing wasted, no arguments, no big egos. They all seem to know where they fit in.
And I can’t help thinking – we humans could learn a hell of a lot from that. We’re supposed to be the smart species, but half the time we’re fighting over the same fish, talking over each other, forgetting how to share the water. Out here, nature doesn’t overthink it. It just flows.
Every bird’s got its role, and together they make it work.
I guess that’s why I love standing out here. It reminds me that balance isn’t about who’s biggest or loudest – it’s about knowing when to move, when to wait, and when to let someone else take the dive.
By the time the boats start heading out, the whole bay’s in full swing – birds feeding, anglers gearing up, the tide rolling in. And I’m just standing there thinking, there’s more wisdom in this harbor than in half the boardrooms I’ve sat in. Nature’s got it figured out – just show up, know your place in the rhythm, and work together without making a mess of it.
Photo by HOUGA JOENG: https://www.pexels.com/photo/flock-of-seagulls-soaring-over-tranquil-ocean-35214023/
