Think Pink!
When we picture a flamingo, we picture them…PINK - of course. But did you know that flamingos aren’t naturally pink? They are actually born greyish-white and it can take about 5 years for them to develop their pink colour.They are what they eat - quite literally, and it shows! It’s actually the red pigments from the algae and shrimp that they feed on that build up and deposit in their feathers over time, slowly resulting in the typical “pink flamingo” colour we recognize. The pink isn’t just a fashion statement though, it’s actually a sign of health and strength.
Often, adult females who have had a chick in the year prior lose their pink colour and return to the white-ish-grey colour they are when they are born. This change reflects the effort of producing an egg and raising a chick - it drains her energy, food reserves, and therefore also her colour. It will take time for her to build up her pink feathers again. And here’s the catch, when mating season comes around again, only the pink birds take part in the courtship dances. This means only when they are physically fit enough, mature enough and strong enough, will they be ready to take on another challenge. You could say this is one of nature’s little way of messaging when she’s ready to exert a ton of energy and effort and when she needs a little time to rest, restore and rejuvenate. Now, I’m not suggesting you apply these principles to your childbearing decisions, but there is something here we can learn from them. Humans have a slightly more complex mind and a lot of opportunity to take on different forms of challenges, ambitions and stressors than our feathered counterparts. Next time you are asked to commit to a new role, work over-time, or feel the social pressures of going out and giving your time to others, it’s important to take a minute to tune into your body and check into the colour of your feathers and what capacity you have left to take these on.
Unlike the flamingos, we don’t broadcast the state of our body and we often feel like we “have” to fulfill obligations or take on more than would be ideal for us at that time. Because the decision to rejuvenate isn’t forced on us like it is with the flamingos, we can easily forget to carve out time for ourselves when our body really needs a chance to recharge. If you’ve been under a lot of stress lately, have an illness or injury that is healing, or feel like you spend your day running full speed on a hamster wheel, your feathers are likely a bit white. You should heed this warning and give yourself some permission and space to carve out a bit of time for yourself and focus on what you and your body need. Just dropping one commitment to something that doesn’t fill you up can be a game changer and allow you time to regain your colours. In other cases, it takes a lot more time to regain yourself and strength, but just like our friends, slowly we can build back our health when we give ourselves time to do it (without getting too impatient!). Being patient as we restore our body and/or mind (whichever parts need a recharge), will allow us to return to the dance floor with more gusto and energy. And now that you’re feelin’ fine - and back to your fancy pink feather boas ;) you’ll be much better poised to tackle new challenges, reach your goals and just simply have the energy to spend on whatever you want to do!
Now, go. Take stock of your colours, react accordingly, and when you’re ready to return to the dance floor shake that tail feather!