What exactly is a mockingjay?
Some of you are probably offended by that question. Many of you think you know the answer, but have you really thought about it?
A mockingjay by most peoples standards is a fictional bird in the popular movie/book series The Hunger Games.
It is a bird that copies noises and passes them on. It is also the symbol adopted by the character Katniss Everdeen, who becomes the famous mockingjay.
In the books the mockingjay is a symbol of hope and salvation for the people of Panem. The mockingjay is not quiet, in fact it is a rather excellent communicator.
Even Katniss who is simple borrowing the image of the mockingjay has no problem standing up and speaking up for what she believes in.
What does this have to do with me, you might ask. And why are you talking about The Hunger Games in a world race blog?
To answer those questions my dear friend, I will tell you about another bird, no doubt the bird that inspired the famous bird from the movies.
For those of you who don’t know the state bird of Texas, where I live, is the mockingbird. Sound familiar?
The mockingbird, much like its fictitious counterparts is noted for being rather talented at one thing… the mockingbird is an amazing copycat. Thats right mockingjays are real and they’re honestly rather annoying! But they are very good at making themselves known.
For example, I have left a class several days in a row and there is a particular sign that a mockingbird always sits on. I guess he thinks the sign is his special perch because I’ve caught him there more than once. I always notice him because he is always making a racket, imitating other birds, car alarms, police sirens , you name it. He is always very loud!
In contrast, on one of the days I saw the mocking bird, I was walking into the building heading to my class and I came upon a group of people in the hallway waiting to enter a classroom.
I had to walk a good distance down the hall, so there was plenty of time for me to observe this group of students.
What I noticed about them, that sadly isn’t particularly unusual, is that not a single person was talking to another.
There were fifteen people in the hallway all going to the same class and you could hear a pin drop.
Why was no one talking to each other? … you guessed it, cell phones!! Every single person was talking, texting, or surfing the web on their cells.
I find it ironic that a device intended to make communication easier for us is ruining the communication skills of our nation.
Does anyone else find it incredibly annoying when you are trying to have a conversation with someone and they are glued to their phone screen like its gonna sprout legs and run away.
I hate that more than anything, but I’m as guilty as anybody at doing it.
I ponder if I would have even seen the mockingbird on the sign if it hadn’t been making such a racket.
So whats the point? How does a bunch of silent college students and a copycat bird connect?
The point is that we should all strive to be more like the mocking bird, or mockingjay if you like.
We need to quit staring and our screens and take a look around. The world is a beautiful place, but we’re missing it.
We only have a short time to live on this earth, lets stop wasting it on pointless things.
Lets take a look around and voice our opinions on the things we see, lets get out there and make a difference in the world around us. Be a mockingjay and bring hope to a nation! Life is so much more important then that thing in your hand or pocket. I implore you not to forget that.
No one says you have to do anything radical. I’m not asking you to come on the world race with me or anything, but simple work on focusing on the other human beings around you. There are so many opportunities to show kindness and to help other people every single day. All we have to do is look up, and speak up!
