THINK YOU’VE GOT A TOUGH LIFE?
Think the human process of growing old can be a pain in the posterior?
Consider what the fierce-looking eagle, ruler of its skies, must go through to survive to maturity.
The powerful bird of prey and symbol of strength can live up to 70 years. But to reach full maturity, the eagle must make tough decisions.
By its fourth decade, things seem to go to pot. The eagle’s long and flexible talons can no longer grab prey for its meal. Its long, sharp beak becomes bent.
Then the creature’s aged and heavy wings, due to their thick feathers, become stuck to its chest and make flying difficult.
At that point, the eagle is left with only two options: die or go through a painful process of change — which lasts a grueling 150 days.
To effect the necessary change, the eagle has to fly to a mountain-top and sit on its nest. Then it must knock its beak against a rock until it plucks it out.
After that process, the bird sits, waiting for a new beak to grow back. When that happens, it begins to pluck out its talons.
Once new talons are in place, the eagle starts plucking out its aged feathers.
At the end of five months, the eagle takes its famous flight of rebirth.
And lives another 30 years!
Learn from the eagle, which is the symbol sitting proudly atop our flag pole.
Hang tough!
Spread your wings and FLY!