Ideas and thoughts are strange things. Normally, I don’t give their presence in my mind a second thought, but there are times when I wonder what business they have hanging out there.

Without bragging, I would say that my thoughts sometimes are winged and behave like birds. There are, for example, moments when a thought flies into my mind as fast as a Peregrine falcon. I immediately start looking for pen and paper, but when I finally find them, all visible traces of that bird are always gone.

Just like owls, looking clever while sitting half asleep on a branch, I often try to look as though I am participating in a conversation. Meanwhile, my mind is secretly processing stuff that happened half a century ago.

Ravens are famous for their smartness. Their impressive thought processes allow them to use tools. Likewise, only last month, I successfully used a ladle to get a spoon out from underneath a stove. I wish I could have such raven-like moments more often, but those birds are clever and mostly stay out of my reach.

Just like there are birds that don’t fly, I have thoughts that definitely stay on the ground. When I share an interesting idea and people look at me, frown and say, “Seriously?” I know how it feels for an ostrich, running around with useless wings.

When I get nervous or panic, my thoughts appear in murmurations, like starlings do. They sweep back and forth in my mind in groups of thousands. What I call my “starling moments,” is what bird experts call “controlled chaos.”

Some thoughts stay permanently in my mind. Just like crows have their favorite trees, these thoughts have picked my mind for nesting. They take up a lot of space and are extremely messy and noisy.

The thought of drones comes to my mind. I wish I had a mental remote control with which I could control my thoughts’ movements by changing the position of their wings. I would make some thoughts come close and others fly far away.

But, of course, that’s just a thought…

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Emily O'Leary
Emily O'Leary(@emily-oleary)
1 year ago

I really like this Christer! It’s informative, and clever in how relateable it is! Flowing very nicely from thought to thought. Very much enjoyed it, well done!

Greene M Wills
Greene M Wills(@greene-m-wills)
1 year ago

How clever to compare thoughts, ideas and memories to birds! I love the cause and effect deriving from that. Well done Christer!

Sandra James
Sandra James(@sandra-james)
1 year ago

A great interpretation of the wings theme, Christer! As I read, I looked forward to each different bird with each new paragraph. Your story is as strong as an eagle and as beautiful as a peacock! Well done 🙂

Eric Radcliffe
Eric Radcliffe(@eric-radcliffe)
1 year ago

How are you, Christer? Hope all is well in your part of the world now! This is a fun read, as much as it is serious. Everyone will be able to relate to the clever way you have used birds to write the story line on ”Wings”. No doubt we will all be thinking what type of bird am I? I will depart Swift-ly now, Ha, ha ?.

Last edited 1 year ago by Eric Radcliffe
David Drew
David Drew(@david-drew)
1 year ago

A result original angle on the theme Christer. And a great read too!

Lydia E Atzemian
Lydia E Atzemian(@lydia-e-atzemian)
1 year ago

This is a super unique concept. I loved the way you went about it!

Carrie OLeary
Carrie OLeary(@carrie-oleary)
1 year ago

I love the comparison between your thoughts and different bird species. The meandering mind. Unfortunately, mine frequently meanders into a lengthy period of procrastination, flitting here there and everywhere. I’m not sure I am a bird; more like a moth, or maybe a bat 🙂

Melissa Taggart
Melissa Taggart(@melissa-taggart)
1 year ago

This is so clever. I think have realized something about myself through this story, Christer. I am the owl, I always try to look like I am participating in a conversation. And at any given time I find myself processing stuff that happened years ago… I wear the forever “thinking face” so my friends lovingly point out. I love that you used a different bird for each paragraph! I like the line… Read more »

Melissa Taggart
Melissa Taggart(@melissa-taggart)
Reply to  Christer Norrlof
1 year ago

It’s funny you’d mention Aspergers. Both my daughter and my sister have this. Writing definitely helps to unload my mind sometimes!
You’re a very talented writer, Christer, thank you for the advice. I’m sure we all have a set of wings we all just need to believe in ourselves a little bit more. ?

Melissa Taggart
Melissa Taggart(@melissa-taggart)
Reply to  Christer Norrlof
1 year ago

I didn’t mind at all, I found it to be quite brilliant actually because you hit the nail on the head! We all need a laugh these days, and I greatly appreciated it.

Keep being a fantastic human, Christer. I look forward to more of your stories.

Thompson Emate
Thompson Emate(@thompson-emate)
1 year ago

This story is a nice read. I indeed love the comparison of human thoughts with different birds species. Well done, Christer.

Danielle Burke
Danielle Burke(@danielle-burke)
1 year ago

I love these thoughts about thoughts! Such an accurate depiction of a writer’s mind. I can especially relate to the part about not having wings—when that story idea just can’t quite make it off the ground no matter how hard I try.

Marianna Pieterse
Marianna Pieterse(@marianna-pieterse)
1 year ago

Christer, this is a great story. I love the comparison between birds and our thoughts. I read your comment to Danielle and couldn’t help thinking that some stories needs more than a gentle nudging, more like an eagle pushing its babies out of the nest! Your story had me wondering which ‘thought-process’ I mostly can relate to and I think it must be a combination between the Peregrine falcon and the owl… Read more »

Lotchie Carmelo
Lotchie Carmelo(@lotchie-carmelo)
1 year ago

Here you are again, Christer. Another piece of beautiful story, from thought to thought, very clever and original. A wonderful read. Well-written.

Lotchie Carmelo
Lotchie Carmelo(@lotchie-carmelo)
Reply to  Christer Norrlof
1 year ago

You’re welcome, Christer. You did a good job as always.

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