I Wish I Had Been Raised by a Pack of Wolves
Author Unknown
If I had been raised by a pack of wolves I would know what it feels like to be loved unconditional. I would know what it feels like to be respected and supported. They would have taught me to honor my boundaries and to repect those of others. They would have taught me to be generous with my love and affection and to have choosen my mate with care and to honor the union for life. They would have taught me that it is never permissionable to mate with a family member. They would have taught me what support and community is all about. The elderly, the aunts, and the uncles are welcome as memebers of the pack. They are helpers and look after the cubs while the parents are out hunting or resting. They bathe, feed, and care for the young like they were there own. The wolves would have taught me to be myself but to also be able to play, eat, sleep, travel, and move with others. They would have taught me not to get more than I needed. They would have taught me to only kill when I was hungry, and not to kill for fun. Being responsible for my actions would be a lesson that I would have learned from the wolves. If I stepped out of line one of the leaders or my parents would have reprimanded me but they would never have shamed me. The wolves use a good and necessary kind of discipline called "tough love". Wolves grieve when they loose a mate, a loved one, a family member, or a pack mate. They allow themselves to howl or cry. They would have taught me that it is an essential part of living to expreience the grieving and would never have tried to stop me until I was finished. I was raised in a dysfunctional family where I learned none of these skills that these supposed "wild animals" received. If I had grown up with the wolves I believe that my life would be happier, more tranquil, and I would have a greater capactiy for loving myself and others. I would have been a better person, teacher, and mate. Yes! I wish I had been raised by a pack of wolves.
Geese
Dee Horn
There goes those geese again, flying in a strictly patterned
mob.
Why do they do it? Why don't individuals within the mass just flap on off and do thier own thing? Be free to choose the timing of their own flight? Set their own pace?
No.
It's strictly practical matter of survival. Here's how it works:
Traveling against the wind is a major problem of a bird in flight. So, geese form a wall to block the wind, and lessen
the group's flapping work.
The goose up front faces the wind head on, causing the wind
to break in power and swirl more softly around the
other geese. Birds who fly behind that leader fight a lesser tide of air, enabling them to last longer, journey faster, complete the trip with seconds to spare.
Sounds simple?
All you need is one strong leader?
Not so easy.
The truth is that along the way, learders flying against the wind never have the energy to fly up front for the entire journey. A flock, needing to travel fast to keep alive, will easily wear out front-flyer after front-flyer.
But the mass of birds see the worth of the volunteer windbreakers and use the secret method that helps the head goose stay in line longer--they honk.
Honking is not a special act created so earthlings can notice
the beauty of their flight. Study has revealed that all geese have roles to play in this journey of their lives, and honking is one of the more important assignments. Honking is the method geese use to let the leader know they appreciate the fact that one goose is facing the wind on behalf of all.
The louder they honk, the longer a leader will be inspired to keep facing the oncoming wind. When the first leader finally wears out (despite the encouragement of the honking) and drops back a bit to assume a different role, that old leader will honk to help new leaders who move out front.
Together, with the honking and windbreakers, the entire flock of birds flies on to destiny.
I'd Pick More Daisies
Author Unknown
If I had my life to love over again,
I'd try to make more mistakes next time.
I would relax. I would limber up.
I would be sillier than I have been this trip.
I know of very few things I would take seriously.
I would climb more mountains,
swim more rivers, and watch more sunsets.
I would do more walking and looking,
I would eat more ice cream and less beans.
I would have more actual troubles and fewer imaginary ones.
You see, I am one of those people who lives prophylactically and
sensibly and sanely hour after hour, day after day.
Oh, I've had my moments and if I had it to do over again,
I'd have more fun with them.
In fact, I'd try to have nothing else.
Just moments, one after another,
instead of living so many years ahead each day.
I have been one of those people who never goes anywhere
without a thermometer, a hot water bottle, a gargle,
a raincoat, aspirin, and a parachute.
If I have it to do over again,
I would go places, do things and travel lighter than I have.
If I had my life to live over,
I would start bare-footed earlier in the spring
and stay that way til later in the fall.
I would play hooky more.
I wouldn't make such good grades except by accident.
I would ride on more merry-go-rounds.
I'd pick more daisies!
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