Crow or Eagle? Pessimistic or Optimistic? "Gritching" or Grateful? Anti-Bullying or Pro-Respect?
Posted by Billie Willmon on Saturday, October 9, 2010
Under: Attitude Adjustment
Crow or Eagle? Pessimistic or Optimistic? "Gritching" or Grateful? Anti-Bullying or Pro-Respect?
Today has been one of those "Goldilocks 'Baby Bear'" days: not too hot, not too cold; just right. Gratitude and optimism come easily on such a day. So, today Hubby and I gratefully sat on the deck for lunch.
Before I get to the real message (of choosing optimism and gratitude and pro-respect rather than antibullying), let me relay what happened:
After the sun and the pleasant temperature, the next thing we noticed was the insistent, menacing caw, caw, caw of crows circling the north end of the lake.
We knew immediately that “Eddie” was around. No, not Eddie Raven... Eddie Eagle. (I know; kind of strange to give wild creatures personal names. But for us, doing so beats hiring pet-sitters or staying home to feed the usual domestic pets.)
Eddie is one of a pair of bald eagles that resides in our area. With several lakes, a national forest, and a State park nearby, they have a big area to hunt and fish. They are not, therefore, especially interested in crow eggs. (Dadgummit!)
But the pessimistic crows don't realize these bald eagles are disinterested in crow hatch control. So, if even one of the crows spots Eddie, it sounds an alarm. Immediately the entire crow population takes to the air, cawing the alarm - much like air-raid drills of decades past.
The crows get so caught-up in their worry and so insistent in sounding the alarm of the imagined danger, that they apparently forget why they're alarmed! Today they circled the north end of the lake with their bird-curses. Within a short time, though, the group drifted southwest of the lake, some still “complaining”; others, seemingly happy to extend their negative mood.
The decibels had scarcely diminished when I noticed a larger bird – white on each end – gliding above us (on the east side of the lake, heading north) in peace, unnoticed. Eddie then circled gently and passed overhead once more, disappearing calmly to the southeast.
The parallel I saw was that “we” (humankind; not one particular group) often pass along our fears and pessimism, needlessly alarming others. As with the crows’ alarm - though the potential for danger may exist - the persistent pessimism itself damages our life's quality.
Perhaps the tendency for pessimism shows up best in our discussion of politics. Just as our body reacts when we over-consume junk food, our mind and emotions react to what we feed them. When I read friends' political rantings, for example, my attitude turns to excrement.
Catching myself getting caught-up in similar human alarms, I often choose to refocus, reminding myself that if I want to live optimistically, then I will choose to feed mind mind and emotions with positive thoughts.
One such source of positive thoughts is the Optimists' Creed, called “Promise Yourself.” Below, see how a portion of that Creed feeds your mind and emotions:
If you desire to live in gratitude; if you choose to live in optimism; if you want to soar with eagles, then you may wish choose differently what you focus on. Begin by surrounding yourself with positive, optimistic people.
You may also wish to “hide” your Facebook crow-friends' comments from your Wall. Even if we're not acting like one ourselves, if we allow crows to persistently spew negativity from our Wall, we're spreading the negativity by exposing our eagle-friends (and eagle-wannabes) to it! Love your negative friends and family, but - like the noonday sun - limit your exposure!
I've been guilty of passing-on negativity and pessimism. When I “catch” myself, I re-choose to - as much as I can figure out how - to work positively. Yes, I worry about bullying. I cannot "play ostrich" when kids are dying by bullycide. That said, I have chosen to focus on pro-respect, rather than antibullying. In our homes, in our schools, I want kids to learn what’s good about themselves!
Let's focus on - spread, increase, and manifest optimism, the positive; let's express our gratitude, both to others and to Spirit; let’s soar with eagles!
-Billie Willmon Jenkin
author,The Knock-Kneed Cowboy: A Tale of Being “Just Right”... Just As We Are
Today has been one of those "Goldilocks 'Baby Bear'" days: not too hot, not too cold; just right. Gratitude and optimism come easily on such a day. So, today Hubby and I gratefully sat on the deck for lunch.
Before I get to the real message (of choosing optimism and gratitude and pro-respect rather than antibullying), let me relay what happened:
After the sun and the pleasant temperature, the next thing we noticed was the insistent, menacing caw, caw, caw of crows circling the north end of the lake.
We knew immediately that “Eddie” was around. No, not Eddie Raven... Eddie Eagle. (I know; kind of strange to give wild creatures personal names. But for us, doing so beats hiring pet-sitters or staying home to feed the usual domestic pets.)
Eddie is one of a pair of bald eagles that resides in our area. With several lakes, a national forest, and a State park nearby, they have a big area to hunt and fish. They are not, therefore, especially interested in crow eggs. (Dadgummit!)
But the pessimistic crows don't realize these bald eagles are disinterested in crow hatch control. So, if even one of the crows spots Eddie, it sounds an alarm. Immediately the entire crow population takes to the air, cawing the alarm - much like air-raid drills of decades past.
The crows get so caught-up in their worry and so insistent in sounding the alarm of the imagined danger, that they apparently forget why they're alarmed! Today they circled the north end of the lake with their bird-curses. Within a short time, though, the group drifted southwest of the lake, some still “complaining”; others, seemingly happy to extend their negative mood.
The decibels had scarcely diminished when I noticed a larger bird – white on each end – gliding above us (on the east side of the lake, heading north) in peace, unnoticed. Eddie then circled gently and passed overhead once more, disappearing calmly to the southeast.
The parallel I saw was that “we” (humankind; not one particular group) often pass along our fears and pessimism, needlessly alarming others. As with the crows’ alarm - though the potential for danger may exist - the persistent pessimism itself damages our life's quality.
"Some of the worst things in my life never happened."
- Mark Twain
- Mark Twain
Perhaps the tendency for pessimism shows up best in our discussion of politics. Just as our body reacts when we over-consume junk food, our mind and emotions react to what we feed them. When I read friends' political rantings, for example, my attitude turns to excrement.
Catching myself getting caught-up in similar human alarms, I often choose to refocus, reminding myself that if I want to live optimistically, then I will choose to feed mind mind and emotions with positive thoughts.
One such source of positive thoughts is the Optimists' Creed, called “Promise Yourself.” Below, see how a portion of that Creed feeds your mind and emotions:
Promise Yourself
Promise yourself to be so strong that nothing can
disturb your peace of mind.
To talk health, happiness, and prosperity to
every person you meet.
To make all your friends feel like there is
something in them.
Promise yourself to be so strong that nothing can
disturb your peace of mind.
To talk health, happiness, and prosperity to
every person you meet.
To make all your friends feel like there is
something in them.
If you desire to live in gratitude; if you choose to live in optimism; if you want to soar with eagles, then you may wish choose differently what you focus on. Begin by surrounding yourself with positive, optimistic people.
You may also wish to “hide” your Facebook crow-friends' comments from your Wall. Even if we're not acting like one ourselves, if we allow crows to persistently spew negativity from our Wall, we're spreading the negativity by exposing our eagle-friends (and eagle-wannabes) to it! Love your negative friends and family, but - like the noonday sun - limit your exposure!
I've been guilty of passing-on negativity and pessimism. When I “catch” myself, I re-choose to - as much as I can figure out how - to work positively. Yes, I worry about bullying. I cannot "play ostrich" when kids are dying by bullycide. That said, I have chosen to focus on pro-respect, rather than antibullying. In our homes, in our schools, I want kids to learn what’s good about themselves!
What we focus on grows.
From The Secret, we learned that what we focus on increases, manifests.
From The Secret, we learned that what we focus on increases, manifests.
Let's focus on - spread, increase, and manifest optimism, the positive; let's express our gratitude, both to others and to Spirit; let’s soar with eagles!
Let's start NOW!
-Billie Willmon Jenkin
author,The Knock-Kneed Cowboy: A Tale of Being “Just Right”... Just As We Are
In : Attitude Adjustment
Tags: optimism positive gratitude antibullying respect crows bald eagles "soar with eagles"
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Educator, Speaker, Presenter with a passion for empowering others to value themselves and others, recognizing that gifts are often disguised as problems; to celebrate our unique qualities, which make the human race amazing!
Her youngsters' chapter book (The Knock-Kneed Cowboy) and two co-written best-sellers (more about them elsewhere) have given her the opportunity to connect with parents, youngsters, teachers, and groups, especially on the topic of self-acceptance and "pro-respect" (a healthy alternative to "anti-bullying")
