The “Ugly” Pigeons’ Dance

What The Flight of Pigeons Can Teach Us About Flowing With Life

I saw something beautiful the other day.

A pigeon.

I know that may seem weird. Very rarely do people take a look at a pigeon and think, wow, what a beautiful majestic creature. In fact, it's likely the opposite. Pigeons are often referred to as “sky rats.”

They lurk on city streets and skyways, eating any and everything they can get their little beaks on. They’re dirty, beggars, and poop everywhere.

I, myself, have a history of detest for the birds. Their shit always finds its way to my head. So how did I find myself calling these birds, “beautiful.”

I was working out on an open field. Running the length of it and walking the width. Every other sprint I had to run through the flock of pigeons. They flew out of my way for the moment then landed just as they were, waiting for me to come around only minutes later to do it again.

During a longer break, the flock of thirty flew into the air all at once. I watched them move as one, dipping right, gliding through the air in one swoop. Switching left then right again, together, wings fluttering in sync. They weaved through the sky as if conducted but not by one, by all.