Be A Duck

We have a saying in our family, "Be A Duck".  Now since I am from Oregon, that could mean, expect to grow webbed feet.  It doesn't.  It means, let the problems roll right off you, like water off a ducks' back.

This is sometimes easier said than done.  Oh, who am I kidding?  This is usually easier said than done.  Problems are problems and how I react to them isn't always like that of a duck.  I want to be a duck.  I strive to be a duck, but let's face it, aside from being a born and raised Oregonian, I'm often not a duck when I wish I were a duck.

Duck.  Duck.  Duck.

Let's look at this a bit closer, shall we?  Ducks do have amazing feathers.  They float around in the water seemingly without a care in the world.  The water rolls off them.  I imagine washing a duck would be hard.  Under the water, they are paddling like Hell.  I can relate to that.  Under this facade of calm that I sometimes pull off, there is little duck feet paddling like Hell.  There is a lot going on under the surface.

Today I read a post on Facebook from a very dear friend of mine.  She was there at my childhood slumber party when the frog peed on me.  She was there when I didn't get on homecoming court and she made me a crown from a paper bag.  She was there.  Today is her mother's birthday.  It should be a celebration but it isn't.  Her mother passed away some time ago and all I can think is how horribly unfair it is.  I don't know how to be a duck when real loss is involved.  Maybe I'm not supposed to.  My heart aches for my friend.

I want to be better in honor of my friend and the loss she has suffered.

I strive to stop sweating the small stuff.

I will tell my friends and family that they are loved.

I will hold on tight to my loved ones because I could blink and they could be gone.

I will remember that life is short and to live each moment to the fullest so that I honor those loved ones that are lost.

I will be a duck, tomorrow.

Make a nice day!