Have you ever wondered why woodpeckers don’t get headaches?
I heard something interesting this week that caught my attention, and I decided to write about it.
Before I get too deep, I believe you need to know the answer to that question.
Why Don’t Woodpeckers Get Headaches? | Ask A Biologist
Today, I’m blessed to know I rarely have headaches.
Even in those moments of giving up coffee for Lent.
I’m aware that some are not as fortunate as I am, as today we live in a society where so many people are affected by migraine headaches.
We visit our doctors for appointments, and they ask, “What are you allergic to?”
So today is about introspection.
INTROSPECTION Definition & Meaning – Merriam-Webster
When was the last time you took time to reflect, looking inward by examining your thoughts and feelings?
It was a reminder to me when I heard the woodpecker question, as something I had never thought about before I heard it.
There are things we take for granted: that the tree will bloom again after the hard winter’s weather and flowers will spring forward at just the right time.
We are all uniquely and wonderfully made, with various qualities and tolerances.
As a lifelong learner, I am fascinated by the prospect of learning something new.
This past Wednesday, at one of my Toastmasters meetings (Professional Speakers), Sara Ivie, DTM, told a story about the people of Gander who sheltered over 6,500 people during 9/11. It was a story I had never heard before, and it led me to greater introspection.
We all know what happened on September 11, 2001, when al-Qaeda terrorists hijacked four planes, crashing two into the World Trade Center, one into the Pentagon, and one in Pennsylvania, killing nearly 3,000 people and triggering the U.S. “War on Terror.”
But what I didn’t know, or had forgotten, was how long the airspace was shut down and the exact locations where planes were redirected or diverted to land.
How Gander, Newfoundland Took In 6,500 People On 9/11
“There were roughly 4,500 planes in the air at the time, and 38 of them landed in the rural Canadian town of Gander, according to the 9/11 Memorial and Museum.”
It’s a story of hospitality that is so much needed in our current history today.
The Canadian town of Gander is still remembering its efforts as it recently celebrated the 25th Anniversary of 9/11.
Nowadays, everyone has something to say; however, it’s up to us to listen and reflect on what they say.
Many iconic figures have addressed this theme directly or indirectly. Here are some notable ones:
“The only thing worse than being talked about is not being talked about.” — Oscar Wilde (reflecting on the inevitability of opinions)
“People always have something to say, but rarely do they say it with kindness.” — Maya Angelou (emphasizing compassion in discourse)
“Everyone has an opinion, and they’re usually wrong.” — Mark Twain (a humorous take on human judgment)
Today, I challenge you to reflect on what has caught your attention this week and prompted introspection as you search for answers.
McKinley
My wife and her siblings are in the process of clearing out her mother’s house this week which is the home where they all grew up from pre-school into adulthood. Needless to say the house is full of items that are catalysts for both individual and collective memories and introspection. I’ve been a fortunate visitor to that home since my teenage years and greatly miss my mother-in-law who lived a most noble and exemplary life in service to her family, church, and community. This regrettable but necessary task we are performing challenges me to examine my life in comparison to the life my mother-in-law lived. It has resulted in introspection and motivation to make improvements in areas where I may be falling short of the lofty standards she set and where I may have fallen short of her expectations.
Sam,
First and foremost, thank you for being open and transparent. In 2016, when my mother passed away, my siblings had somewhat of that same task as we sorted various items, drawing on different introspections of our mother’s life. We found items that each of us decided to keep and which items we could give away. I have my mother’s bible with notes and scriptures she underlined. You have brought back to me something I had forgotten about, or at least placed in my unconscious mind and then brought back to my conscious mind.
Thank You!
McKinley