#ceekbee

Each day, for many months now, I would see it - the white duck that lived at the park, in the lake.

There were other flying creatures that frequented that same space - like wild ducks and geese. But there was only one white one.

Perhaps it was a domesticated animal that someone dropped off (dumped} at the lake. But it didn’t seem unhappy...and, in fact, it seemed quite content. It did have a ‘handicap’ in that it wasn’t able to fly like all the other ducks that frequented the lake and could come and go as they pleased. It must’ve had an injured wing or leg. But it managed to get along, and, it was almost always accompanied by, at least, three of its wild duck buddies.

For the last few weeks, the lake has been totally frozen. Where before, the animals swam about, now they waddled along on the ice, occasionally going on land to search for food - insects and such. All of the ‘regular’ ducks and geese have flown away. Only the white duck and the three of its wild buddies have remained. They’ve been inseparable, like close friends.

For the last three days, I didn’t see the white duck. I thought, perhaps, the park people had safely ‘captured’ it and provided shelter for it. And though I missed not seeing it, I felt comfort in believing that the animal was safe and warm and cared for.

This morning, as I walked around the lake, I again looked for - but, didn’t see, the white duck or its three friends. I continued walking on. A few hundred feet away from the lake, I saw a white area in front of me on the ground. At first, I thought it was a pile of snow - as we’ve already had some. I approached closer and, to my great dismay and sorrow, I saw the white duck...lying stretched out on the ground alone...a gash wound in its neck - dead.  I don’t know how long it had been there or what had happened to it.

My beautiful bluebird of happiness - ceekbee

a worry list.

Everything on this list,

I am permitted to worry about,

and anything that does not fall into what is approved for this list

I choose to surrender.

The one rule for the list is as follows:

What is completely within my control to change

or act upon in the present moment,

I will let myself worry about briefly,

for the purpose of stress

is to inspire me to take action,

and all else, I will not and will release,

giving it to the Universe, or to God.

I will not let myself worry in advance,

or remain concerned with what was or what will be,

for all I have is today,

as tomorrow is never guaranteed

and I trust the future version of myself

to handle the problems of tomorrow

just as the past version of me

handled the problems of yesterday.

And I accept that I will make mistakes,

and at times, act in ways that I am not proud of,

but I know within my heart

that I am always dedicated

to becoming a better version of myself each day

than I was yesterday

and to learning from my past.

And I forgive myself

for who I once was,

knowing that I can only ever take action in each moment

based on the knowledge and awareness that I presently have

and so no matter how much I may wish to change my past,

it could not have been anything other than what it was.

And the number of worries on the list

is so small

that I can barely count them on one hand,

compared to my list of the blessings in my life,

which are too numerous for me to count.”

Words by Tahlia Hunter

Artwork by Catrin Welz-Stein

My photo of Short Eared Owl - ceekbee

Thought for the Day

LOVE IS THE MASTERPIECE OF THE HEART

“Make your heart the most beautiful thing about you”

~ Unknown