The Fool lies astride a donkey's back with a hand at his mouth. I imagine him feeding the animal with an apple slice or sugar lump every mile or so to entice him to keep plodding along. People - even those exasperating ones - tend to be easier to deal with when we offer unconditional friendliness as well. It's not a matter of whether someone deserves it or not; a smile or a kind word given can help diffuse our own frustration, as well as let the person know they aren't just an obstacle to get past. The fantail often flies within a meter or two of people as they stroll through parks, gardens, and forests (it knows people will stir up insects for it to eat). This companionable bird's message is to "stand back from the little dramas we create in our lives and bring laughter to them." A perspective with a side of humor can help us be more objective and expose the core of the problem. Like the Fool on the donkey learned, we can change our behavior rather than waiting for others to change their actions.
I think when we let go of our expectations it is so much easier to be friendly and smile.:)
ReplyDeleteAs Anne Lamott says, an expectation is a resentment under construction. :D
DeleteI watch Robins hang out where the grass was just recently cut, because the insects are moving around and the fat juicy worms are easier to find. We all tend to take the easier more rewarding path.
ReplyDeleteSmart robins (like the smart fantails)! :)
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