Caged bird

2026-03-21T23:09:10Z

I made a decision last year. One that was intentional, centered on growth, and encourages me to dive deeper within myself to reach parts of who I am that I’m not familiar with. I felt like at 36 my life had become stagnant. Same monotonous routine, day after day. I felt like I was missing something, I could feel it deep within myself.

I would describe this feeling inside me as a caged bird. Delicate, beautiful, and rare. A creature that once danced with the winds currents, and sang to the mountain tops. Its heart wild, but its body now trapped in a gilded cage. Everyday it watches the birds outside from its perch within the cage. Everyday it calls to them, but they never hear.

“Why can’t anyone hear me? Can’t they see I’m in here trapped? Please! Someone… anyone… let me out!” It throws itself at the bars of the cage, round, and round it goes. It tries to find an area of weakness, something to gain control over its own life again. Those bars remain strong however, its metal unyielding.

The bird rests at the bottom of the cage. Bruised, tired, and numb inside. Was this really its existence? Having its freedom stripped away, its potential stunted, and its happiness destroyed. Was this really how it would spend the rest of it’s days? Reminiscing on the time when it was free, only to watch from the inside as life moved on without it.

No. I think not. When you have the heart of a beast, it doesn’t matter how small you are. If you want something bad enough, you’ll find a way to make it happen. All it took was one moment of perfectly timed precision, courage to take a chance, and a whole hell of a lot of determination. That cage that was once a prison now sits empty, and the bird that was in it is singing a much different song now.

Wings outstretched, joy in its heart, and the sun on its back. “I’m free! I’m free! Finally I’m free!” It sings to everyone around it. No longer a bystander to the life it desired and deserves, but a participant. All because it had the heart of a lion and the will to never give up.

I think you can apply this concept to many different situations in life, but the overall purpose is to show a representation of a loss of self, fighting to regain it, and discovering an even better life in the process. Nothing is free, nothing worth having is easy, it takes time, effort, consistency, and focus. If you’re unhappy about your life, do something about it. Don’t sit and watch it pass you by, thinking that’s as good as it will ever be.

Make a choice, choose yourself. Even if it’s scary, even if you don’t have all the answers. Don’t stay stuck. My journey is only beginning, yet I’ve already learned so much. I didn’t know that for me my vulnerability was a prisoner inside of myself, much like that caged bird. I didn’t know that the darkest parts of who I am guard it fiercely, keeping everyone away. I had no idea the reason I’ve been so unsatisfied romantically was because I wasn’t getting what I needed, or who I needed it from.

Self discovery is a beautiful thing. It’s complex, sometimes messy, a little scary, and not at all easy. It’s 💯 worth it though. I may not know how to speak the languages of every part of who I am fluently yet. I at least know they exist now though. Here’s to self discovery and never accepting less than you deserve. 🥂

Bonus: listen to ‘The song of a caged bird’ by Lindsey Sterling. The first time I heard it I sobbed. I hear the desperation of that bird. As time passed and choices were made, the song changed. What was a song of desperation and hopelessness, turned into one of victory and freedom. That’s the beauty of music… depending on where you are in life, you hear different things.

What do you hear?