Another home

When one hears the word home spoken one usually thinks of a single place, whether physically or in the heart. When one thinks again, there may come the realization that there is more than one place that we can call home and have it be true. Just as there are seasons with plants and animals, there are also seasons with us. This may not involve time necessarily, but mood or circumstances or different people we have affinities with. Home can be a place we feel best in when we are happy and embracing new and different things, we can have a home for retreat and reevaluation, or we can have a home with all our dear ones around us, separate from the world. There is nothing wrong with having a set or a series of homes as long as we feel welcome and appreciated in each one. We must also give freely to each of our homes to help maintain them while we stay there or for them to be ready for our arrival at any time.  Our homes may be radically different from one another and it seem odd to others that we can be comfortable in such different environments or they can be so similar that it does not appear clear why we have different ones. We can have any number of homes or just one, but it is essential to have at least one place to belong and to call home. Do you feel that more than one place is home to you?

Doom

It may be a given, doom; a given that what you’re about to attempt is doomed and may even fail altogether.  Nevertheless, for whatever reason, this is something you really want to try. No matter that you’re not suited for it, not shaped or designed for it, it’s just something that has to be done. And why not? Even though people point out how silly you’ll feel or look and tell you shouldn’t attempt it because the attempt will only make you feel bad or inadequate, don’t take their advice. Until you, yourself, take a good look at what you’d like to do and make your own evaluation, don’t make a decision. Only you can have a true idea of your capabilities whether they’re physical, mental, or spiritual and only you can decide to take a leap or a chance on the endeavor of your choice. There is a measure of swagger  needed to bring something new or difficult off and a measure of bravado as well,  though both should be happening in your mind, not in front of an audience. Most important, however, is having confidence in your abilities. You don’t have to be loud or aggressive about your confidence, in fact quiet, calm confidence is much more impressive. The cormorant above is not showy or brash and is able to fish and catch fish in the maelstrom of a dam’s overflow without being flashy or obvious. Unobtrusively completing a challenge allows you to decide whether or not you want anyone to know about the attempt you’ve made, and when. Tooting your horn beforehand can set you up for embarrassment or shame, if you’re susceptible to either, or multiple explanations over and over again. Once you have gone through enough challenges for you personally you’ll find that that nagging feeling of doom, started by well-meaning people giving you advice, will fade away leaving more confidence in its wake.  Shouldn’t we stay alert to challenges and choose those we’d like to attempt on our own?