When Life Is “For the Birds”

bikehikebabe sent me this picture from the internet. It’s too good not to share.

The baby being stepped on reminds me of a verse on a birthday card my daughter sent my husband years ago:

Oh, life is so like a bluebird
The poet Omar hath said.
Sometimes it sings at your window,
And sometimes it dumps on your head.

It pays to remember life won’t always go the way we would like, but that’s no reason to despair and give up. That’s why I review the Traits of Stress-Hardy, Resilient People from time to time. It’s a reminder to practice stress-hardiness in my everyday life. And living fully today is the best preparation for the future. As the ancient Sanskrit poem says,

Look to this day:
For it is life, the very life of life.
In its brief course
Lie all the truths and realities of existence:
The bliss of growth,
The splendor of action,
The glory of power.
For yesterday is but a memory
And tomorrow is only a vision;
But today, well-lived, makes
Every yesterday a memory of happiness
And every tomorrow a vision of hope.
Look well therefore to this day!

What about you? What are you doing to increase your stress-hardiness? What are you doing to make the most of today? Please share your thoughts in the comments section.

Thanks to Ulla and Jackie for commenting on last week’s post.
 
And thanks to bikehikebabe for the great picture!
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4 Responses to When Life Is “For the Birds”

  1. Square Peg says:

    One way to react to this is to feel sorry for the bird that’s being stepped on. It’s missing out on the food, and its momma is ignoring it.

    Another way is to view the stepped-on bird as a food-stealing bully that always takes away its sibling’s food. “You had enough, Roscoe,” the momma bird scolds. “Let your sister eat in peace for a change.”

    Now the picture symbolizes justice, fairness and a reward for patience.

  2. Jean says:

    Square Peg,
    Thanks for coming by and reminding us that our first interpretation isn’t always true. 🙂

  3. bikehikebabe says:

    Square Peg—Right on! That pic. was sent as a joke. “How you know if you’re Mom’s favorite.” Someone sent a reply saying what you said, but you said it SO well.

  4. Pingback: Life Is For the Birds Revisited — Transforming Stress Into Personal Power

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