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Learning From Nature: 5 Lessons to the Remarkable

Craig Stanland
3 min readJul 24, 2024

It’s early in the morning; the sun hasn’t yet risen.

The last pinks of the sunrise give way to a clear blue sky of a glorious fall day. A few cirrus clouds slowly transform and evolve, adding dimensionality to an already beautiful skyscape.

I understand why Monet preferred to paint by the morning and evening light. The colors are more alive.

I’m sitting at my desk in front of an expansive window overlooking my balcony.

I’m an hour and a half into my morning routine, wrapping up my journaling, when I pause to think.

Something has me a little stumped. I need a moment, and I do what I always do when I’m a little stumped by something I’m journaling about.

I stare out the window; the blue jays are awake, flying from branch to branch, making their presence known.

A small flock of birds flies overhead; they dance across the morning sky.

I allow myself to let go and merely observe as the birds fly in unison. I find myself deep in thoughts and visions of hundreds if not thousands, if not tens of thousands, of birds flying in unison.

It turns out there is a word for this spectacle of nature, murmuration.

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Craig Stanland
Craig Stanland

Written by Craig Stanland

From corporate success to federal prison, I share my journey to rediscover joy, meaning, and purpose. Join me in reinventing your extraordinary second act!

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