The sunny day predicted dawned with a lot of cloud. By noon, heavy cloud hung everywhere. The wind was no longer just a breeze and it carried heavy moist air. I visited a friend today and we worked on some writing projects and had a good visit. I felt very reflective today. This meant that I often found myself following a path that went in circles and got me nowhere. With help, I got out of that circular train of thought, yet something inside me seemed determined to go off the main path today. I am nothing, if not tangential, but this was less constructive than usual. For whatever reason, today I seemed well and truly stuck in the vortex.
I recall a story told by a friend about a visit she made to Treetops Lodge in Kenya -- where the Queen was when she heard of the death of her father -- princess became queen there. My friend was there about a decade later. Their guide for the safari had them escorted into the complex one or two at time, while he stood guard with his rifle. Why? A baby elephant was stuck in a mud hole where the herd had been drinking. The females expressed great distress and worked to free the little one, but it hadn't worked yet. The baby was getting exhausted, which only added to the panic among the herd. The arrival of a loud group of humans heading to their rooms for the night was not something that needed to be added to the situation. Fear of a charging elephant among the people only added to the tension in the air. With further work, the infant was finally freed. Today I felt like that baby elephant -- mired down in thinking that I hadn't wallowed in to this degree for some time. Generally, I just stop at the side of the mud hole and move on or maybe stick one foot into the edge of the boggy bits. Today I jumped right into the middle with both feet. There are tricks to noticing when I wander off the beaten path and risk the dreaded circular thinking. Friends have gently extricated me or diverted my attention in another direction (Ooohh, shiny things <grin>). I can do this for myself, but when tired, migraine-y, or thinking of past challenges, it becomes more difficult to avoid the sucking mud holes.
A song for all this comes from a Canadian singer/songwriter -- one who so aptly puts feelings into words. The lyrics fit well with the concept of the need for work over time to change that ingrained thinking style. His voice is amazing. Enjoy!
Oh -- the rains finally arrived in early evening and the temperatures had cooled noticeably. <smile>
All in Good Time -- Ron Sexsmith
No comments:
Post a Comment