Tag: spring

life lessons

A Paradox

mimijk

Hi my friend,

Yes, I have to cop to the fact that the title of this post is pretty poor. If you can think of something better, let me know šŸ„“.

Spring is stirring here, which is amazing given that spring has yet to spring. But there is no denying that the forsythia are awake, some trees are beginning to unroll their leaves and lawns are hinting that something better is in their future. I feel that it would be remiss not to notice, given the sense of urgency that arrives with all of this activity and the silent request that we pay attention.

And yet, Iā€™m not there yet. I still exist in this headspace that aches for a revival of ā€˜newnessā€™. Yet, the fact remains that I ricochet between disbelief and fear, with some anger in the middle. Where is gratitude? Grace? Hopefulness? Iā€™m trying, I really am. It feels like somewhere I turned in the wrong direction and am now living in a backward space. I know Iā€™m not alone, I know that I have been lucky and blessed, and feel guilty that I donā€™t hang out in that reality more often.

ā€When one is in a messā€¦one has no right to worry about the idiocy of oneā€™s own psychology, but must do the next thing with diligence and devotion and earn the goodwill of others. In every littlest thing you do in this way you will find yourself. [Everyone has] to do it the hard way, and always with the next, the littlest, and the hardest things.ā€ Carl Jung

To paraphrase – suck it up buttercup.

So, Iā€™ve started going to the gym (donā€™t pat me on the back, itā€™s not a habit yet). Iā€™m making a conscious choice to notice what is around me that is wondrous, and with a little diligence, can always see something. I am disillusioned by so much, my challenge is to balance that out with some good stuff too.

Small stepsā€¦small steps. This is a new persona for me, thinking a bit like Lily Tomlin – ā€œI worry no matter how cynical you become, itā€™s never enough to keep up.ā€ Itā€™s tough not to feel jaded and dismissive. Itā€™s arguably what one is faced with these days. Small steps, small stepsā€¦Iā€™m not giving up with resignation; Iā€™m heading straight for the spring.

Hope your day is great

Mimi

discretion, humor, life lessons, love

Sex And The Single Bird

mimijk

th-14

I lay no claim to being an ornithologist – but I’m telling you, spring is most definitely in the air in the bird kingdom. Ā You should see and hear what’s going on in the trees around our house. Ā It’s a veritable conclave for coming together (so to speak).

Apparently cardinals are monogamous, but the guys still go through a very touching courtship routine each season. Ā They ask their prospective baby-mamas out for a date. Ā I gather this tryst is always about food – no ice-skating or movies involved. Ā But if the meal is good and the guy is cute, he can seal the deal if he sings well. Ā Personally, I have heard some very impressive trilling lately. Ā And my hunch is that he’s got to bring something more than a McDonald’s Happy Meal if he’s hoping for a long-term relationship. Ā It’s good to be discerning I think – regardless of your species. Ā And I think it’s good for the kids to see their parents being nice to each other.

Now, the male robins show up a few weeks ahead of the girls, to scope out neighborhoods, do a little house-hunting, and sing threateningly to establish property rights (I guess this is analogous to going to a closing on one’s house). Ā Far be it for me to let them know that what they perceive as threatening sounds pretty damn glorious to me. Ā When the ladies arrive, things move into a mode similar to “The Dating Game” (yes, this dates me significantly). Ā The female has her choice, gets to ask a lot of questions (do you believe that parenting responsibilities should be shared; would you describe yourself as a romantic; if you were a human, what kind of human would you be, etc) and once she chooses her mate they head off for a brief honeymoon at some undisclosed location up the street.

We have a lot of different birds around here – I’m just mentioning these two types because they’re the least intimidating. Ā And because this topic could get a little tedious. Ā Let’s just say that turkey vultures courting other turkey vultures is nightmare-worthy and so frightening to Bogey that he barked at the sky for twenty minutes after witnessing their efforts at seduction. Ā There’s just nothing romantic to be said about turkey vultures. Ā Unless of course you’re a turkey vulture.

So as the buds begin to wink suggestively, promising more beauty yet to come, there’s even more salacious activity going on within their branches. Ā Listen up, it’s the music of love.