Look at this hood ornament. Doesn’t she look like she’s soaring? Head up, face straight into the wind, with confidence and joy. A few months ago when we visited the Italian car museum in Torino I was fascinated with hood ornaments on the cars from the 20’s, 30’s and 40’s and have many pictures of them. This one captures a spirit of freedom that the others don’t though. She belongs on the hood of this car. You can tell, this is her place and it is right for her to be there.

Why do I love her so much? What does she represent for me? I think maybe she represents how I want to live my life… looking forward, speeding ahead into the unknown, the wind on my face. A feeling of exhilaration and freedom from restraint. Of unrepressed joy in the rightness of being where I am. For her, it doesn’t matter the destination, it’s the movement she celebrates. There is no fear in her.

Life lessons from a hood ornament. Who knew?

What does she say to you?