Last night, a friend reminded of the saying, "You can't send a duck to eagle school. No matter how many scholarships you give him, he will never be an eagle."
As I got off the phone, I pondered that thought even more. As my Sunday Night brain continued, I figured I had better blog about it.
Now, don't get me wrong, but I have this "thing" about pigeons. Maybe it is because I deal with way too many of them at work, in the literal sense. They. Are. A. Pain. They are messy. They are noisy. And, in general, I don't find much use for them. I digress.
And pigeons, like ducks, will never be eagles. If I were to think about characteristics of eagle, among other things, eagles soar because they have vision. Eagles nurture their young and while they have compassion, they also destroy nests so as to make younger eagles learn to fly. Eagles are tenacious -- when a storm comes, they rise to greater heights instead of burying their heads and taking shelter. And, eagles only feed on fresh prey, never eating dead things that they did not kill themselves.
I have thought about the eagles in my life. They soar because they have vision, but because we are humans and not birds, they are also there for me in the tough times. They don't try to sugar coat things. They are "there" with me in life. Whether it is a phone conversation, a quick text to let me know they are thinking about me, a full-on laugh over a cup of coffee or an adult beverage, or a word that reminds me why I want to be an eagle. They recognize my needs, no matter how inconvenient they are, because they care about me.
This week has been emotional for many reasons. Tears. Laughs. More laughs. More tears. As I thought about the week, I realize that there are lots of pigeons around me. And while I love them for who they are and sometimes their cooing is background noise of knowing I'm not alone, they are not who I aspire to be. They don't have true compassion, sensitivity to my needs, or ability to throw me out of the nest when I would rather sit in it--no matter how dysfunctional it is. And when I fall victim to life's challenges, they are more like vultures than eagles. Rather than give me what I truly need and ask for, they care on their terms--superficially.
I have tried sending these pigeons to eagle school. Heck, I have even given them scholarships. At the end of the day, however, they are still pigeons. They still have pigeon values in my book. Sure they fly a little more--for awhile. And then they don't. They sit. They coo. They shit on my head when I fall victim and sit for too long. And sometimes, the most sad part of all, they don't even know they are pigeons. After all, they went to eagle school and are dressed like an eagle.
So, as I sit and think about the values of eagles around me, I'm going to look for other eagles with whom to share life. Real authentic life. Eagle values of: not about who we know or how much we make, but about who can "do" life with me, who can be vulnerable, who can show me weakness in their authentic strength, and who can support my needs just as much as I support theirs.
Love the pigeons, but find your eagles.
As I got off the phone, I pondered that thought even more. As my Sunday Night brain continued, I figured I had better blog about it.
Now, don't get me wrong, but I have this "thing" about pigeons. Maybe it is because I deal with way too many of them at work, in the literal sense. They. Are. A. Pain. They are messy. They are noisy. And, in general, I don't find much use for them. I digress.
And pigeons, like ducks, will never be eagles. If I were to think about characteristics of eagle, among other things, eagles soar because they have vision. Eagles nurture their young and while they have compassion, they also destroy nests so as to make younger eagles learn to fly. Eagles are tenacious -- when a storm comes, they rise to greater heights instead of burying their heads and taking shelter. And, eagles only feed on fresh prey, never eating dead things that they did not kill themselves.
I have thought about the eagles in my life. They soar because they have vision, but because we are humans and not birds, they are also there for me in the tough times. They don't try to sugar coat things. They are "there" with me in life. Whether it is a phone conversation, a quick text to let me know they are thinking about me, a full-on laugh over a cup of coffee or an adult beverage, or a word that reminds me why I want to be an eagle. They recognize my needs, no matter how inconvenient they are, because they care about me.
This week has been emotional for many reasons. Tears. Laughs. More laughs. More tears. As I thought about the week, I realize that there are lots of pigeons around me. And while I love them for who they are and sometimes their cooing is background noise of knowing I'm not alone, they are not who I aspire to be. They don't have true compassion, sensitivity to my needs, or ability to throw me out of the nest when I would rather sit in it--no matter how dysfunctional it is. And when I fall victim to life's challenges, they are more like vultures than eagles. Rather than give me what I truly need and ask for, they care on their terms--superficially.
I have tried sending these pigeons to eagle school. Heck, I have even given them scholarships. At the end of the day, however, they are still pigeons. They still have pigeon values in my book. Sure they fly a little more--for awhile. And then they don't. They sit. They coo. They shit on my head when I fall victim and sit for too long. And sometimes, the most sad part of all, they don't even know they are pigeons. After all, they went to eagle school and are dressed like an eagle.
So, as I sit and think about the values of eagles around me, I'm going to look for other eagles with whom to share life. Real authentic life. Eagle values of: not about who we know or how much we make, but about who can "do" life with me, who can be vulnerable, who can show me weakness in their authentic strength, and who can support my needs just as much as I support theirs.
Love the pigeons, but find your eagles.