Living on Purpose: Discover Your Wings!

“The two most important days in your life are the day you are born and the day you find out why.” —Mark Twain

And so it began… Once upon a time, there was a mama eagle who gave birth to a baby eaglet. The mama eagle was overjoyed with her new bundle of feathers, eagerly waiting to teach her everything about the life of an eagle. She especially couldn’t wait to show her eaglet how to fly and soar across the sky, fulfilling the eagle’s true purpose. But life, as we know, can take unexpected turns.

One day, the mama eagle left the nest to find food for her little eaglet. But in her search, tragedy struck, and the mama eagle never returned.

Too young to fend for herself, the eaglet was desperate to find her mother. In her attempt to search, she tumbled from the nest and fell into a nearby pond. Without knowing how to swim, she flailed helplessly in the water, fighting to keep her head above the surface. As her tiny body began to sink, she felt a wave of hopelessness wash over her.

Just when all seemed lost, a figure swooped in and scooped her out of the water. Gasping for air, the eaglet opened her eyes, expecting to see her mother. But when she looked up, she saw not an eagle, but a duck who had come to her rescue.

A New Life Begins

The mama duck, who had seen the eaglet fall, waited for her mother to arrive. But as the minutes turned into hours, and then days, it became clear: no one was coming for the eaglet. The mama duck hesitated. She already had ducklings of her own to care for. Should she take in this strange little bird, or leave her behind?

Her heart couldn’t let go. Despite her initial reluctance, the mama duck decided to adopt the eaglet and raise her as one of her own.

At first, the eaglet fit in well with the ducklings, and the family treated her with kindness. But as the eaglet grew, it became clear that she wasn’t like the others. She struggled to swim and lacked the grace the ducklings had in the water. While her siblings loved to splash around, the eaglet avoided the water, feeling awkward and out of place. Her size, her clumsiness, and her inability to adapt to the duck life left her confused.

She began to wonder, “Why am I different? Why can’t I swim like the others?”

The Identity Crisis of the Misfit

The eaglet tried desperately to fit in, but no matter how much she practiced, she couldn’t swim as gracefully as the other ducks. The more she tried, the more the differences became obvious. Not only was she larger than her siblings, but her wings were also too long and powerful for a duck. Her awkwardness became the subject of teasing from the younger ducks, and soon she began to feel like an outcast.

Despite her best efforts, she couldn’t shake the feeling that something was missing. She didn’t belong in the pond, but she had no idea where she did belong. The eaglet questioned her identity: Was she just a clumsy duck, destined to never fit in? Or was there something more to her?

A Push Toward Destiny

One day, while playing with the other ducks near the waterfall, the eaglet accidentally knocked their ball over the edge. Furious, the other ducks plotted to rid themselves of the misfit bird once and for all. When no one was looking, they pushed her off the cliff, sending her plummeting towards the water below.

As the eaglet fell, she closed her eyes, accepting her fate. She had never truly belonged, and maybe this was how it was meant to end. No more trying to fit in, no more teasing, no more struggling.

But just as she was about to hit the water, something miraculous happened. Her wings, which had always seemed too large, instinctively fanned out, catching the wind. Instead of crashing into the water, she began to rise. The wind lifted her higher and higher, and for the first time in her life, the eaglet was soaring.

Falling into Flight

As she ascended, the rush of the wind against her feathers felt like nothing she had ever experienced. She felt free. She felt powerful. And for the first time, she felt like she was where she was meant to be.

Looking down, the pond and the waterfall grew smaller and smaller, fading into the distance. Up here, in the sky, everything made sense. The doubts and insecurities melted away as she embraced the joy of flying. She wasn’t a duck, after all—she was an eagle.

Soaring higher, she spotted another bird in the distance, perched on a tree. As she drew closer, she realized this bird looked just like her. Could it be? Were there others like her? Had she finally found where she belonged?

The Search for Purpose

At that moment, the eaglet realized her life had been a search for her true identity and purpose. For so long, she had tried to fit in with the ducks, never realizing she was meant to fly with the eagles. Her differences weren’t weaknesses; they were her greatest strengths. The very things that made her stand out were what gave her the power to soar.

And so, with her wings fully extended, the young eagle embraced her newfound purpose. She no longer questioned her place in the world, for she knew she was born to fly.

Stay tuned for part 2 of our story: “Living on Purpose – Discover Your Perch!”

Are You Living on Purpose?

Just like the eagle, each of us is born with unique strengths and talents. But too often, we try to fit into roles that don’t align with our true purpose. We might be struggling to “swim” in an environment where we’re meant to “fly.”

It’s time to stop trying to fit in where you don’t belong. It’s time to discover your wings, embrace your strengths, and soar toward your true purpose.

If you’re ready to live on purpose and discover the life you were born to lead, let’s get started together! Join the Optometry Divas community and connect with women who, like you, are on a journey to become the CEOs of their lives.

Until then, remember: Dream Big, Take Risks, and Become the CEO of YOU!