I recently remembered this story. It may be ancient or just something someone just made up , but it is meaningful to me. Like any good story, it changes all the time, even since the last time I told it. 

A young student watch a wise old master finish an ink painting birds and flowers. He asked, “Pardon me, Master, but why did you leave space around the bird at the top of your painting, You filled the rest of your painting with ink?” 

The master rubbed his chin and replied. “Ah, this is a good question. If I had filled that space. there wouldn’t be room for the bird to fly.”

We all need to leave room in our lives for our birds “to fly”. To soar to new heights, to fully experience life.

This painting , “Leaving room for the bird to fly,” illustrates this idea.