My mother once told me you can only be a step below, a step above, or on the same step as those who raised you. After all, we can only go so far from what we know before things become untenable and out of our comfort zone.

Like little chicks trailing in the shadow of our guardians, we pick up all we can by imitation, so if we followed geese, we learned how to fly far and wide without ever really leaving our migratory path.  

If we trailed after more predatory birds, we ourselves learned to prey upon others to survive. 




And if we followed chickens...well, it's an impressive poult that even learns it has the CAPACITY to fly, let alone attempts to take to the skies. We walk the same path as those that came before us, only taking to the skies when tradition demands it.

It is only when we leave everything we know behind, 






when we buck the entire step system, 






that we leave not only the coop, 






but the yard, the farm, 
the county, the state,

the country, 
& even the planet the farm calls home...

...well, that's when we go beyond our traditional fledging and TRULY learn a new way to fly.

 And once you've walked on the moon, just THINK of how far those who FOLLOW you will soar...!