My plein air painter friend was having a frustrating time by the lake. Everything that could go wrong with his painting simply went wrong, repeatedly.
In exasperation, he began to scrape the paint off the board yet again. One of the many geese in the area wandered up beside him but he busily continued scraping paint.
Imagine his surprise when the miffed goose bit him in the butt!
He turned and looked down at the goose. He rather liked the lines and color of the annoying creature.
He turned his full attention to the goose and began to paint it rather than the overworked landscape that had been distressing him. The goose refrained from any more biting.
This particular artist now has a whole series of relaxed and playful goose paintings underway.
I think this is a great example of how a new opportunity sometimes has to bite us in the butt to get our attention.
In my friend’s case, he ended up having fun with painting again. Now when he paints landscapes, they also have that playful spirit to them, which he had gradually lost until that day by the lake.
Maybe it would be good to just notice the geese without having to have one bite us in the butt. What interesting new geese are showing up in your life right now?
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Copyright © Lexi Sundell 2008. All Rights Reserved.
Great story, and a good lesson. Hmm – what are my ‘geese’ at the moment?
Hi Lexi —
Agreed — since I started seeing any and all turns in events as potential opportunities or learning experience, few things seem to upset me any more. In addition to being open to what life has to offer, it’s also good for a peace of mind. 😉
ari
Hmmm, what opportunities are presented with cranky friends who bite you in the butt?
@gia,
Many opportunities. Really. Like:
– Your friends are reflections of who you are. What makes you a magnet to such people? Identify and correct.
– Cranky people are cranky because their own problems, not you. You can show your true concern for your friends’ well-beings. Your genuine interest has a potential to cut through their childish venting and improve your friendships.
– Similarly, you can practice building your stability. Their actions are only reflections of their own problems — there’s no need for you to take any of it personally. When this concept gets instilled in you, you’ll see that whatever they do don’t upset or affect you.
– Or you may work up your courage to say no and leave those relationships. You’ll feel great about yourself afterward.
Anyway you cut it, you have great opportunities to learn and grow. Have fun! 😉
ari
Cath, Hope you find your geese!
Ari, That was a well thought out response to Gia although I suspect she meant it a quite different way than you took it.
For me a major part of friendship is remaining focused on positives that outweigh the negatives. Every one of us has our cranky moments, after all.
Lexi
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