🌼 Discovering Freedom & Opening Your Own Doors: Lessons From My Chickens)
Welcome to this Start Fresh mini from the Om WOW Podcast! Let’s reset our mindset and start the week with clarity and intention.
Listen to the short episode:
Episode #18: Show Notes
I let my chickens out of their pen today so they could stretch their legs, peck at some clover, and snack on bugs. At first, I planned to let them roam for just an hour because I had a virtual meeting in the afternoon. But after exploring, they all found their way under the deck and perched on the wooden supports where we usually store our kayaks.
Since they were sticking together and staying near the deck, I decided to leave them out a little longer. When my meeting ended, I tried to round them up, but they darted under the deck where I couldn’t reach them.
So instead of forcing the issue, I grabbed my coffee and notebook, left my laptop inside to charge, and sat outside with them. And sure enough, they returned to that boat support as if it were their favorite spot.
Why Do They Prefer Being Loose?
It made me wonder why they wanted to be outside instead of in their safe and spacious pen. Are they rebels craving variety, or is it something more? Maybe being in the yard gives them both freedom and security, especially since they know I’m nearby to protect them.
Or maybe, just maybe, they’re reminding me to put my computer down, to recharge myself as well as my laptop, and to enjoy life beyond a screen.
The Childhood Pull of Freedom
Watching them made me think of childhood. Remember how badly we wanted to stay up late, convinced we were missing out on something amazing? Freedom has that pull.
But what does freedom really mean? For some people, it’s the ability to do what they want, when they want. For others, it’s being free from responsibilities, schedules, or time clocks.
For me, freedom means spending time outdoors, grounding myself barefoot in the grass. It means choosing when I work instead of being tied to a cubicle. It’s being able to play music or embrace silence depending on my mood.
What Does Freedom Look Like to You?
Maybe for you, freedom ties back to finances—being able to travel, eat at a favorite restaurant, or retire early. Maybe it’s flexibility with your time or the ability to say no to obligations that drain you.
Would you even recognize freedom if you saw it in someone else’s life?
Avoiding the Cage or Embracing Freedom?
The pen where my chickens live is actually wonderful. It’s roomy, safe, and connected to a coop built like a cozy cabin. Honestly, I could camp out in there myself and be perfectly comfortable. So why do they resist going back in?
Are they savoring the gift of freedom while they can? Or are they simply avoiding the cage? Maybe it’s both.
And since winter is only a couple months away, I figure it’s worth letting them explore the yard while the season allows. Today they had four and a half hours of true free-range adventure—their longest yet.
What Holds Us Back from Our Own Freedom?
For the chickens, the only thing between them and freedom is the closed door of the pen, plus someone to open it.
For us humans, though, the biggest barrier is often ourselves.
You don’t need anyone’s permission to open the door toward your own goals. Sometimes the hardest part is taking that first step.
The Power of 5 Minutes of Action
I recently heard someone say, “Five minutes of action is better than 50 hours of planning.” Ouch, right? But it’s true.
So my challenge for you this week is simple: spend just five minutes each day taking action toward your goals. Not planning, not waiting—just action.
Baby steps count. And if you keep taking them, before long you’ll find your goals and your vision of freedom right in front of you.
Final Thoughts
As I sat with my chickens today, I realized their persistence wasn’t just about staying out of the pen. It was about reminding me—and maybe all of us—that freedom isn’t something we have to wait for. It’s something we create, five minutes at a time.
So go ahead, open your door. Take one small step. And keep moving toward the life you want.
Have a fabulous week, my friends.
If this mini gave you a mindset boost, pass it on! Comment below & let me know— your energy makes a difference.
Meet Our Host: Jennifer Robin O’Keefe
Jennifer Robin is always searching for the next thing that might help: the book, the practice, the reframe you didn't know existed but turns out to be exactly what you needed.
Through conversations with experts, authors, and everyday humans, along with personal reflection, Jennifer focuses on bridging the gap between "woo" and practical, accessible self-support. Her work is rooted in the belief that wellness is not about fixing yourself, but about remembering your worth and finding what genuinely works for you.
She has spent decades exploring personal growth, energy healing, and mind-body wellness. She's trained in EFT Tapping and coaching, tools she often references in her conversations. She's not positioning herself as an expert who has it all figured out. She approaches her work with humility, curiosity, and deep respect for individual experience.
Jennifer is a lifelong learner who cherishes books and notebooks. She loves diving into research and sharing what she learns in a way that feels relatable, compassionate, and pressure-free. These conversations are an invitation: to ask your own questions, gather perspectives that resonate, and build a life that actually feels good to you.
