This past weekend, I took my kiddies on a nature walk at the National Wildlife Center. We had not been in a while, and I decided to take them to see what interesting things occurs in nature following a rainfall. The day was sunny, early and slightly hot...nonetheless, perfect. We walked over a bridge, which was absent of water lilies or pads, and took note of the rise in the water level. The gravel road seemed washed and remnants of a silt water path was still visible. Eagerly, we walked to the trail that led into the trees.
Along the woodland trail, we heard geese, seen herons, spiders and different types of mushrooms. We continued to walk along the lake, as mosquitoes danced on us without biting, and everything seemed alive and wet. When we turned around, Ari began to run ahead, and continued to pick up various sticks, until I noticed how one stick didn't seem too familiar up ahead. As I yelled for her to stop, I looked at the stick that didn't seem to be there before. Slowly walking towards it, I noticed many bumps along the top that just didn't seem right, and wondered why was it shiny? Holy shit, it was a snake! So we moved further back, and I attempted to think without freaking out in front of the kids. My fear of snakes was being tested, and here in front of me was one about three feet long.
My first reaction was to call the center. Do they know there are snakes out here? Duh, of course we're outside in a wildlife center. Maybe they can move it? By the time the old fogies make it out here, it would be gone. So, mentally I blacked out for a good five seconds, and freaked out for about two minutes (I immediately thought we were in some snake trap, and they were going to strike us from all sides at any minute). Painfully, I realized that we would just have to wait until it crossed the path. It ever so slowly slithered across, and took what seemed to be an eternity. In that time, I reviewed my range of emotions that went from frightened, to panic, and finally patience. Once upon a time, I couldn't even look at a snake ten feet away from me, and here I was waiting for one to cross the road. Forced into this position of submission by two Podlings.
After it finally passed, we ran across and I was ready to be done for the day. However, the little ones scared as they were, wanted to explore more. For a little while we did, and then went off to conquer grocery shopping. Looking back on that day, makes me realize how grueling patience can be. When we realize that there is nothing that can be done in an instant, we just have to suck it up and wait. At a time when I was in the Army, everyone knew the real motto was and always will be, "hurry up and wait". In basic training, we would spend hours and days on waiting, for what I can't even remember. I once heard it was to weed out the crazies, but later on you realize that even after you were in your first unit, the waiting continued and was accelerated during each training event. However, the key to achieving patience in how you're waiting for something, is to realize what you're waiting for. Also, it would be helpful to find ways to enjoy those moments of waiting, and make it time well spent, because sometimes you don't have any other choice.
Along the woodland trail, we heard geese, seen herons, spiders and different types of mushrooms. We continued to walk along the lake, as mosquitoes danced on us without biting, and everything seemed alive and wet. When we turned around, Ari began to run ahead, and continued to pick up various sticks, until I noticed how one stick didn't seem too familiar up ahead. As I yelled for her to stop, I looked at the stick that didn't seem to be there before. Slowly walking towards it, I noticed many bumps along the top that just didn't seem right, and wondered why was it shiny? Holy shit, it was a snake! So we moved further back, and I attempted to think without freaking out in front of the kids. My fear of snakes was being tested, and here in front of me was one about three feet long.
My first reaction was to call the center. Do they know there are snakes out here? Duh, of course we're outside in a wildlife center. Maybe they can move it? By the time the old fogies make it out here, it would be gone. So, mentally I blacked out for a good five seconds, and freaked out for about two minutes (I immediately thought we were in some snake trap, and they were going to strike us from all sides at any minute). Painfully, I realized that we would just have to wait until it crossed the path. It ever so slowly slithered across, and took what seemed to be an eternity. In that time, I reviewed my range of emotions that went from frightened, to panic, and finally patience. Once upon a time, I couldn't even look at a snake ten feet away from me, and here I was waiting for one to cross the road. Forced into this position of submission by two Podlings.
After it finally passed, we ran across and I was ready to be done for the day. However, the little ones scared as they were, wanted to explore more. For a little while we did, and then went off to conquer grocery shopping. Looking back on that day, makes me realize how grueling patience can be. When we realize that there is nothing that can be done in an instant, we just have to suck it up and wait. At a time when I was in the Army, everyone knew the real motto was and always will be, "hurry up and wait". In basic training, we would spend hours and days on waiting, for what I can't even remember. I once heard it was to weed out the crazies, but later on you realize that even after you were in your first unit, the waiting continued and was accelerated during each training event. However, the key to achieving patience in how you're waiting for something, is to realize what you're waiting for. Also, it would be helpful to find ways to enjoy those moments of waiting, and make it time well spent, because sometimes you don't have any other choice.
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