Are You Just Watching the Bird Feeder? Don’t Let the Couch Win!
Instead, Keep Moving, Doing, and Learning (MDL)
By Del Albright
(Inspired by Ted Cabral, RestoreTrails.org)
Gathered around the campfire, the wise old man shared a simple truth with the crowd of younger trail riders. He praised them for being out there—getting their tires dirty, enjoying the backcountry, and swapping stories around the flames. Then he shared a tale about another old man.
He said, “My buddy sat on his porch, staring out into the yard. I asked him what he was thinking about. He said, ‘I’m just watching my bird feeder… the bright little birds coming in for a free meal. That’s about all I do now.’”
That hit me like a ton of bricks. He wasn’t that much older than me, but life had caught up with him. Maybe it was the way he treated his body, maybe just bad luck—but his trail days were over. No more hikes, no more rides, not even a walk to the mailbox. His world had shrunk to that bird feeder.
Now don’t get me wrong—there’s nothing wrong with a peaceful moment on the porch, hot coffee in hand, birds fluttering nearby. But that moment should be part of your day—not the whole dang thing.
The lesson here isn’t to feel sorry for anyone. It’s to remind us that life is racing by, and if we don’t keep up, it’ll pass us by. The secret? Three simple words: Moving, Doing, and Learning. MDL.
Keep Moving
As long as your body allows—move it. Walk, stretch, get out of that chair. Lift a light weight while watching the game. Do anything but sit still too long. Movement is medicine.
Keep Doing
Projects keep us alive. Whether it’s organizing your gear, fixing something, volunteering, or helping a neighbor—doing beats stalling. The worst thing a leader (or anyone) can do is nothing. So embrace that never-ending to-do list. It keeps you relevant and moving forward.
Keep Learning
Engage your brain. Read. Learn a new skill or hobby. Play an instrument. Watch a how-to video and finally fix that “thing” on your rig. Your brain grows through curiosity—and shrinks from neglect.
There’s more to life than this simple list, sure. But if you keep MDL in the front of your mind, you’ll squeeze more juice out of your days—and avoid the fate of spending all your time watching the bird feeder.
Get up. Get out. Get moving. Life’s not done with you yet.