If a man does not keep pace with his companions,
perhaps it is because he hears a different drummer.
Let him step to the music which he hears,
however measured or far away.
Henry David Theroux
I love the hestitation of this little duckling......he's got a look on his beaky face wondering if he should really fall in line and get with the formation. I think he has other ideas.......like slipping off to test the waters somewhere else, or perhaps swimming upstream. Or maybe, he likes where he is now and doesn't feel the urge to hang with the pack.
It's always a good feeling to know you belong to a group. There are those times however and for whatever reason when we yearn for time alone..........some personal head space to get to know ourselves outside of the clan. To belong and to be surrounded by unconditional love and positve regard is the food needed to pick and choose our own convoluted paths.....in harmony with others or by the solitary flute music we hear in our hearts.
This post was inspired by Carmi's Wednesday thematic photography prompt. This week, it's animals. Ok, I know I didn't actually pick an animal photo........I heard the birdsong and followed the tune.
13 comments:
we all need head space time knowing that we have those who love us and will still be there for us when we are ready to join the group again.
We all need space to grow - was browsing quotes earlier and came across this one..
Kahlil Gibran says "But let there be spaces in your togetherness and let the winds of the heavens dance between you. Love one another but make not a bond of love: let it rather be a moving sea between the shores of your souls."
spaces in togetherness is so important, as is stepping to the music we hear and following our own tune.
i'm walking 60 km. with my camping gear soon, for alone time on the road and at the camp site. we pursue peace in many fashions.
gord H.
So beautifully put. It's during those quiet, in between moments that I often do my best thinking, when I often find the way to recharge myself so that I can survive the day-to-day tumult of the world around me.
Your words, wrapped around this photo, capture that spirit so completely. Happy sigh...
There's a tranquility in this shot that's hard to identify. It may be from the reflections below the surface (or maybe "refraction" is the better word). It's too bad we humans can't depend on the absolute certainty of the flock like your potential Lone Duckman here. bvery thought provoking photo -- and post.
that shot is very peaceful. i like that the other duck is contemplating not following the rest. i'm all about being different. :) lol mine is up, too.
katie....i agree because if a person doesn't have this space, it feels like it smothers spirit and chokes the freedom needs we all have in us. Was speaking of this today......William Glasser, Choice theorist writes about how all our behaviour is our best attempt to fulfill one of 5 basic needs....love and belonging, survival, recognition and empowerment, freedom and/or fun.
If we need the space, we are acting to fulfill one of those needs that obviously is lacking. If we are trying to reach out to someone who has chosen to swim away from the pack, it is still recognized as filling a need.....the one who is reaching out to rescue.....
I try to remember this, as I think it's easy in my field to want to jump in and "help" someone.....but it may be that my own desire to help is reflective of my own needs and not someone elses......whether it has good intentions or not.... the last thing I want to do is smother someone's elses spirit with my own wanting deficits.
Gord.....welcome.....I wish you well on your journey. Our pursuits and need for this solace do range.....my number one preference is a canoe....and if that isn't possible, then a walk along the shores somewhere. Writing is another.
Carmi....I think it is one of the ways our brains are the same.....photography/writing..... seem to stem from the in between moments, when creativity has a chance to formulate.
Mojo....I took the photo on my last day of a long vacation last summer before i had to head back to work and could relate to the hesitation of the duck. :)
You raise a good point. I think sometimes when we lose our confidence in ourselves or in the relationships we have where we want to belong, we will act out by trying to stick too closely to the flock etc.
Unconditional love is not universal unfortunately.....when it is there in our lives, it is glorious, but when we are looking for this unconditional love our yearnings get the best of us.....and we can't confidently journey upstream on our own.
ciara.....me too! I had to visit a second hand store today with a colleague to pick up a few items for an event happening in the community. I stumbled across the most outrageously garish jacket...the colours bled CRAZY! Of course, it caught my eye. My friend who was standing there initially was appalled at the thought that I was even thinking about trying it on. But, I did....over my little black summer dress and it fit perfectly! It even had the same multi-colours as my purse.....
She changed her mind! It completely FUNKIFIED the dress....I turned up the collar, rolled up the sleeves and started strutting around in it.... She laughs and says......"only YOU could get away with that jacket!"
Then I hear another woman say....."I don't even know you and I think you could get away with wearing that jacket"....
SO??? I have a new jacket. I think it filled all the basic needs.......including FUN.
very true Dana, totally agree..spirits are born to be free..that is ultimately what is so beautiful about them - if they are smothered they are like seaweed out of the water...they lose their colour, fluidity and vibrancy that makes them so attractive.
We also want a pic of your new jacket!
Ah great picture and only you who can become philosophical about it. Another coincedence. I just wrote a post along the same line about not following the crowd but choosing your own
A great photo and beautiful post to go with it.
Once when my daughter was little, we went out to eat at a restaurant that was in the middle of a man-made lake, or pond. There was a mother duck swimming along, and she had her brood following her in the water...ducks in a row, you know. But way in the back was a little one swimming for all he was worth, going peep, peep, peep, calling his mama. Maybe he had done what this little one was thinking about doing.
Here from Carmi's.
katie.....it's definately something to keep in mind.
marja........can't wait to read your take on it....will be right over for a peak!
beverley....welcome! I love watching little ones (humans) learn the first steps to independence....how at age 2 or so will get lost in their own play and become oblivious even for a short time of their momma or poppa..... and then all of a sudden, they realize that they are on their own so to speak and quickly seek out the reassurance of security. I suspect this little duckling would've learned that lesson too.
Very insightful. :)
I love the story about the jacket... I think you were doing your own thing right there. Being the lone duck. Trying something apart from the pack, even as your friend openly judged (gently, of course, but openly). Brave you!
-smarmoofus
Freedom of choice and something to choose... how lucky are these ducks and all of us. Your photo is beautiful.
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