I hadn’t even heard about the Arctic tern until my partner pointed it out to me recently. Here are a few fun—and impressive—facts about the Arctic tern:

It’s not a big bird: it only weighs about three to four ounces.

Despite its size, it has, by far, the longest migration of all birds. Each year, it flies approximately 50,000 miles, migrating from one polar region to the other—twice. During its lifetime, it flies up to 1.5 million miles—over three roundtrips to the moon and back.

The Arctic tern ends up spending eight months of the year in polar regions, in areas where the sun doesn’t set. This makes it the animal that experiences the most sunlight during the year.

It manages to do the long flying distances with two “tricks.” One is that, most of the time, it’s actually gliding while letting the wind do the work. The other one is that it flies while in a kind of sleep: as one brain hemisphere sleeps, the other navigates and controls the flight.

Since the Arctic tern is gliding most of the time, it can’t always choose the best course. When it drifts too far off course, it has to make an extra loop all the way around Antarctica before it can migrate back to the Arctic.

Ever thought you’re not able to do something?

Ever thought you don’t know enough, don’t have the expertise, don’t have the authority, or don’t have the [fill in the blank with your “go-to obstacle”]?

Take the next step

Pay attention to what excuse you tell yourself about why something can’t be done. Pay attention to the reason that comes up most often. Maybe, this is your “go-to obstacle.” Then, look at the Arctic tern and think, “If this little fella can do it…”

(PS: I need to remind myself of its travel distance when I’m struggling with a few miles during one of my section hikes of the Appalachian Trail.)