Duck Says “Sink or Swim”

Often, in life, we are given situations where we must choose to either move forward and make a change, or where we choose to let life circumstances defeat us.

Several days ago, someone that I love dearly received chastising about a situation that he was involved in.  The chastisement seemed out of proportion to the seriousness of the situation.  It reminded me of the put downs that many of us received from our parents (fathers) in our early lives.  The tone of the chastisement was along the lines of “how can you be so stupid”, and “I am so much smarter than you”; put downs that we now all realize are about power and not about any constructive coaching or team building.

As I was thinking through the situation, and feeling thankful that I was no longer in that corporate situation, I saw the picture below, from Spirit, and realized that Duck had a comment for me. Duck is a spirit animal that brings many messages to humans, messages that are often ignored.

The comment was “sink or swim”!  From the moment that Duck is born, she must make her way through the grass down into the water.  She is not safe on the land from Fox, Hawk, Coyote, Snake, Racoon, Weasel, or even Cat or Dog.  When she gets in the water, she is not safe from Turtle, Fish, Eagle, or other predators.  Yet, she swims! She does not give up.  To escape those who would diminish her, she simply swims faster until the time comes when she can fly, and then she flies faster. 

Life, Duck says, is about getting on, and not getting down.  Life is about finding the flow, and staying in the current, and keeping moving.  The nature of things is about moving and change, and never giving up. Life is about loving one’s self enough to keep trying.  

And that, says Duck, is the meditation for today – sink or swim.

     Ducks from amolife.com 

Many blessings,

Judy

50 Golden Rules For Life

Picture of mountains in Elbow Falls Wilderness Area - by J. Hirst

Often, I find that I need a pick-me-up mental or spiritual boost on some morning.  I read a lot and sometimes find nuggets of good information in places I do not expect to find anything useful.

Last month, I was scanning LinkedIn and found this wonderful posting by Alvin Foo on LinkedIn on February 24 2024.  His thoughts and his rules for life are worth sharing.

50 GOLDEN RULES FOR LIFE.

1. Never shake hands at anyone without standing up.

2. In a negotiation, never make the first offer.

3. If they trust you a secret, keep it.

4. If they lend you a car, return it with a full tank.

5. Do things with passion or don't do it at all.

6. When you shake your hand make it firm and look that person in the eye.

7. Live the experience of traveling alone.

8. Never turn down a peppermint pill, the reasons are obvious.

9. Take advice if you want to grow old.

10. Come eat with the new person at school/office.

11. When you text someone and you're angry: finish, read it, delete it, and rewrite the message.

12. At the table you don't talk about work, politics, or religion.

13. Write your goals, and work on them.

14. Defend your point of view but be tolerant and respectful to others.

15. Call and visit your relatives.

16. Never regret anything, learn from everything

17. Honor and loyalty must be present in your personality.

18. Don't lend money to someone you know won't pay you back.

19. Believe in something.

20. Tend your bed when you wake up in the mornings.

21. Sing in the shower.

22. Care for a plant or a garden.

23. Keep an eye on the sky every chance you get.

24. Discover your skills and exploit them.

25. Love your job or leave it.

26. Ask for help when you need it.

27. Teach someone a value, preferably a small one.

28. Appreciate and thank the one who extends your hand.

29. Be kind to your neighbors.

30. Make someone's day happier, it will make you happier too.

31. Compete with yourself.

32 Treat yourself at least once a year

33. Take care of your health.

34. Always greet with a smile.

35. Think fast but speak slow.

36. Don't talk with a mouth full.

37. Polish your shoes, cut your nails, and always keep a good look.

38. Don't put your opinion on issues you don't know.

39. Never mistreat anyone.

40. Live your life as if it were the last day of it.

41. Never miss a wonderful opportunity to remain quiet.

42. Recognize someone for their effort.

43. Be humble, even though not all the time.

44. Never forget your roots.

45. Travel when you can.

46. Give up the step.

47 Dance in the rain.

48. Seek your success without giving up.

49. Be fair, stand up for those who need you.

50. Learn to enjoy moments of loneliness.

Many blessings,

Judy

Cheetah Says “Sprint When You Can”

Not all of us were made to run marathon races.  Some of us were made to be sprinters.  We like to go fast!  Cheetah comes in to talk to us about the lessons she has learned from sprinting.

• Sprinting – going really fast – gives you the element of surprise when you are stalking food (working) or when you are simply having fun.
• The short, fast run keeps your muscles toned, your wind and lungs maxed, and your heart tuned to a low resting rate.  You become a prime, physical specimen.
• When you sprint, your focus is quite sharp for a short period of time.  Then you can stop and rest and look around.  This is when you become very aware of your environment.  What happens then is that you see a bigger, clearer picture that is different then when you are moving slower but more consistently moving, such as one would in a marathon.
• If you wish to give yourself more time at the destination, then one needs to sprint to it, and not run towards the destination slowly.

As I listened to Cheetah, I was amazed at the wisdom in her words.  She indicated that she and her kind have been around about eight million years, and that they have not changed much in that time.  The last bit of wisdom, then, is that sprinting may preserve the species.

Many blessings,

Judy