Here is some wonderful soul ‘traveling’ by a birdie sitting on a branch. Its branch offers security, perhaps even pleasure! It sits there, sings, eats and enjoys resting on the branch. But, suddenly, a great wind starts to dangle this branch and the branch is in danger of breaking. Is the bird afraid? No, it is not afraid, because it knows two things: it knows it can fly and it knows that there are other branches besides this one.

We stand on a branch and lose the awareness that we can fly, and that there are other branches too. We lose the awareness of the Truth: that we were not always on this branch, that we previously did not have this branch to stand on, or that we are sometimes alone or even that we were standing on another branch before.

Remember this bird and see where YOU stand now. Relying on someone is not a problem. We do not tell the bird not to sit on the branch. Do ‘stand’ on the ‘branch’ that is close by. It is nice to find a harbour once in a while, but do not be afraid to leave once you are ready. You HAVE the power within you to move on, on your own. Other branches DO exist, should you at some point again need one to stand on!

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Even though this is a well know parable, Theodore often uses this version as a tool to teach young people life skills, such as adaptability, creativity and the fact that their life’s journey is intertwined with other people’s lives. It is a participative process.

Theodore Andoniou (62), is an educationalist, specializing in vocational orientation. His life philosophy is that “every human’s journey is unique, regardless of whether many other humans may share the exact same destination”.

Email: antonioutheodore@yahoo.gr

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