I'm not sure how many have heard of the story of "the bluebird of happiness." I saw this movie when I was growing up and absolutely LOVED it. We went back out to my grandparents farm today, (one last time for me, since it will be sold off next year...My parents don't want it, I definately don't want it, I'm not going to start farming on 130 acres of land, not knowing a single thing about living on a farm...I wouldn't last 1 day doing that, and would catch a ride with someone to the nearest big city....) we almost didn't go, because of time limits, and trying to make it back, it's so far, etc...etc...something made me want to see it one more time, since I won't be back here for several years after we move again. I walked in and opened the door, and there was a small bird flying all over the place. It kept flying into windows, and falling back down. I went over to it, and looked at it, and it was a a solid blue bird. Absolutely beautiful. I have seen them from a distance, we don't have too many of them here in Oklahoma...if we do, they are in different parts of the state, not here in the city...I picked it up and it didn't fight me at all..I couldn't believe I had found a bluebird and remembered the story of the "bluebird of happiness" and I was actually holding one...I held onto it a little while, knowing that I would have to set it free...I was so glad that I came back to the house there and found it...I took a few pictures with the bluebird I found, and was so fascinated by its beautiful color...I went back outside and a little into our woods, kissed it good-bye, put him in a tree, and watched him fly high off into the tall trees...I looked at it as also a comfort from my grandparents who have both passed away....to remain happy no matter what, happiness really is found at home, and inside of you, and not by worldly things...I feel so lucky to have found a bluebird, and actually got to hold it....to everyone who isn't familiar with the story of the "bluebird of happiness" it really is an inspiring one, and I'm so glad that it happened to me finally....
the HISTORY of the BLUEBIRD OF HAPPINESS
The first mention that we know of the Bluebird of Happiness is in a Nobel Prize winning play for young people written by Maurice Maeterlinck entitled L'Oiseau Bleu, written in the early 20th century. In an imaginary fairy-tale setting, the son and daughter of a modest woodcutter, Tyltyl and Mytyl, are sent out by a fairy to search all of the world for the Bluebird of Happiness.
The children visit the ends of the earth; the Land of Memory, the Palace of Night, and the Kingdom of the Future. Only when Tyltyl and Mytyl return home do they discover that the Bluebird has been in their bird cage the whole time. Tyltyl gives the bird to a neighbor child who has been ill and the bird flies away. True happiness, the children learn, is usually found close to home. It comes from making the journey, not from reaching the destination. Happiness, as the moral of the story imparts, comes from seeking rather than from finding. Happiness comes from an unselfish life, without thought or motive of reward.
The Bluebird of Happiness story was made into a Shirley Temple movie in 1940. In 1975 a elaborate remake of the movie was made and released in 1976, which was the first co-produced film by the United States and the Soviet Union.
Bluebirds, native to North America, Bermuda and near islands, continually sings a sweet and inviting song. We think of joy, togetherness, love and the freshness and promise of Spring. The Bluebird, as a simple and thoughtful gift, are given to remind us of good wishes for marriages, anniversaries and house warmings. The traditional Bluebird is known as the bird found close to home.
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