This morning at 6:08 a.m. the tapping on the window resumed. Mr. Bluebird has still not given up. And perhaps the reason is that it wasn’t until this morning that his true message was received, literally with the dawn.
It takes me awhile to think things through. Yesterday I was taken by his persistence. In applying that to myself, it didn’t really fit. If anything, I tend to be too driven to accomplish my goals. If anything I need to learn to chill once in awhile. Perseverance is not something I lack.
But lo and behold, at some point his message as a spirit animal came through.
He is worried about something that will never happen!
At least from the cats he sees watching from the window. He recognizes them as dangerous predators, which they can be, but the chances of them getting out to harm his family is about as close to zero as they can get.
If I have a superpower, it’s worrying about things that will never happen. While they may loom before me from time to time, truly serious issues that could end badly, somehow they always work out.
I have a few on my mind right now. Quite a few, actually.
Thank you, Mr. Bluebird, for reminding me of the waste of mental and emotional energy that worry represents. Like they say, it’s a poor use of creativity, inventing trouble that will never arrive.
It’s particularly appropriate that he’s a bluebird, which is often equated with happiness. How much of that precious commodity is negated by needless worry? The symbolism goes even deeper with the fact he literally woke me up two mornings in a row!
I can definitely be a little slow putting things together.
I hope that his nestlings remain safe. My indoor cats will definitely not be the cause of their demise. His diligence is commendable, though there are numerous other threats to their well-being, like our dogs, who are always outside, yet he ignores.
Meanwhile, I will do my best to set my current concerns aside and count my blessings. Truly there are messages all around us that we often miss, ignore, or discount.
I just hope their fledglings fly soon. That tapping on the window is starting to get pretty annoying. Especially when, from time to time, the cat lunges for the window. Is he thinking that at some point he’ll succeed in catching that bird?
Which takes me full circle back to beating a dead horse.
You can learn a lot about a person, including yourself, by looking at your thumb. Yes, that side-mounted digit that enables humans and primates to do things other animals can’t. According to palmistry, the upper joint represents will and the lower joint, logic. Ideally, they’re the same size. If so, you’ll have the will to put forth the effort to see your ideas to completion.
If the top joint (will) is larger (which is the case with me), your will/determination is stronger than your ability to see things logically. What does that mean? You’re likely to be inclined to beat a dead horse.
If the lower joint prevails, you may have a plethora of great ideas but lack the will to make them happen.
Obviously, a bird does not have a thumb. However, if the bluebird attacking my window had one, clearly the top joint would prevail.
Why is he attacking my window?
Because I have two indoor cats. Apparently, he and his mate have a nest in the purple martin house in the front yard and he’s concerned.
So let’s think about this.
As I said, the felines in question are “indoor cats.” They do not go outside. Thus, the danger does not exist.
So far, this daddy bird has been attacking my windows since yesterday afternoon. After a few hours of the thumping sound of him hitting the window, I closed the curtains. He still continued until dark. First thing this morning, right around dawn (which comes early this time of year, i.e. 5:30 a.m.) he was at it again.
Thump, thump, thump.
The odds are (hopefully) very low that the cat or bird will break the window in their ongoing confrontation. If the barrier between them were removed, the cat is the definite favorite. It’s not that far to the ground, so then he’d have a definite opportunity to pursue the bird. Would the bird retreat? Or attempt to fight?
I have two cats who have entirely different views of the situation. My tuxedo cat, who is female and a very good mouser, is also around twelve years old. She found it amusing, but after awhile returned to her napping. However, my ragdoll/Maine coon male, who’s a little over a year old, is thoroughly enjoying the show.
Most the time he just lays there, watching the bird with a bemused expression. Occasionally, he’ll lunge for the window, but no telling what his expectations are.
As the assault continues I wondered: Is this bird a spirit animal with a message? While perseverance is usually a virtue, when it becomes an exercise in futility, then what? And at what point do you know it’s a battle you’ll never win? When do you know it’s time to walk away?
There are various quotes and a couple poems that have encouraged me not to give up. The simplest is, not surprisingly, on my wall: “Never give up! Never surrender!” from the movie Galaxy Quest. Another favorite is: “Aiming for the stars and dragging your feet in the treetops is better than aiming for the treetops and dragging your feet in the mud.” (Anonymous)
Here’s my favorite poem, which has seen me through various challenges:
Good Timber
by Douglas Malloch.
The tree that never had to fight For sun and sky and air and light, But stood out in the open plain And always got its share of rain, Never became a forest king But lived and died a scrubby thing.
The man who never had to toil To gain and farm his patch of soil, Who never had to win his share Of sun and sky and light and air, Never became a manly man But lived and died as he began.
Good timber does not grow with ease, The stronger wind, the stronger trees, The further sky, the greater length, The more the storm, the more the strength. By sun and cold, by rain and snow, In trees and men good timbers grow.
Where thickest lies the forest growth We find the patriarchs of both. And they hold counsel with the stars Whose broken branches show the scars Of many winds and much of strife. This is the common law of life.
When things go wrong, as they sometimes will, When the road you’re trudging seems all up hill, When the funds are low and the debts are high, And you want to smile, but you have to sigh, When care is pressing you down a bit, Rest if you must—but don’t you quit.
Life is queer with its twists and turns, As every one of us sometimes learns, And many a failure turns about When he might have won had he stuck it out; Don’t give up, though the pace seems slow— You may succeed with another blow.
Often the goal is nearer than It seems to a faint and faltering man, Often the struggler has given up When he might have captured the victor’s cup, And he learned too late, when the night slipped down, How close he was to the golden crown.
Success is failure turned inside out— The silver tint of the clouds of doubt, And you never can tell how close you are, It may be near when it seems afar; So stick to the fight when you’re hardest hit— It’s when things seem worst that you mustn’t quit.
I’m in the midst of a project that may very well be a little too similar to that determined daddy bird valiantly defending his family.
Should I give up?
If so, when? At what point have I done enough?
I have never been able to figure that out.
Let’s just say I feel better about myself beating a dead horse than quitting. I usually land in the treetops, but I’ve never wound up in the mud.
How about you?
Take a look at your thumb. Do the joints line up with your natural inclination when confronted with what could be an insurmountable challenge? Are you a tree dweller or confined to the ground?
Feel free to leave your thoughts in the comments below.
Meanwhile, I need to get back to work.
P.S. It’s been quiet outside for quite awhile. I just hope he figured it out and I don’t find a dead bluebird outside my window…
Stop for a moment and make a list of your daily annoyances. Now give them some thought. Can you talk yourself out of being bothered by them? Is there something you can do to eliminate them? Or are they just a part of life you have to live with?
Since merging households with my youngest daughter, her husband, and their three teens I’ve had a lot of adjustments to make after living on my own for twenty years. Like sharing a bathroom with two teenage girls. Opening a cabinet for a glass or a drawer for a fork or spoon to find them all missing since the kids are allowed to eat in their rooms.
Being a cat person more than a dog fan, their three big dogs (a Doberman, a husky, and a 50+ pound “puppy” that’s a mastiff-pittbull cross) were probably at the top of the list. Especially their propensity to get into the kitchen trash can and scatter garbage all over, taking their best finds into the living room to enjoy on the couch. 🤦♀️😖
If you’re not familiar with what Occam’s razor is, here’s what googling it says:
Occam’s Razor is a problem-solving principle that suggests, when presented with competing hypotheses, the one with the fewest assumptions should be selected. It essentially favors simpler explanations over more complex ones, when both explain the same phenomenon equally well. The principle is often summarized as “the simplest solution is usually the best”.
“Here’s a more detailed explanation:
“Parsimony: Occam’s Razor is also known as the “law of parsimony“. Parsimony, in this context, means being economical or frugal with assumptions.”
Dealing with my various frustrations was generally pretty simple, once I sat down and did some basic problem solving. The bathroom issue “is what it is” and can’t be changed. Solution: Get over it.
The glass and silverware situation won’t go away until the kids move out, which will be awhile. The solution: Keep what I need in my room.
The dogs getting in the trash issue went on for a long time. Our usual solution was to place an empty cardboard box on top between the lid and overhang of the kitchen island. The problem with that was that often the box was not in place, plus one of the dogs (the husky) learned to push it aside.
The situation was actually solved by my daughter, who works in a hardware store. For pocket change, she brought home a metal hook and eye and installed it on the trash can.
Problem solved.
So what’s my point?
There is plenty to get spun up about these days. The world is pretty crazy, and as an astrologer, I can see what’s going on out there in the cosmos and that it’s not going to change any time soon. In other words, much of what may get you spun up is entirely out of your control.
How much of what’s going on out there really affects your daily life? Does it really matter?
Even if it does, there isn’t much you can do about it.
Thus, it’s a good idea to take care of those things that you can.
For example, if your daily commute is a nightmare, try listening to music your love, your favorite podcasts, or something else you enjoy to upgrade the value of time spent in a situation you can’t control.
Decide what matters and what doesn’t. Take control of what you can. This crazy planet isn’t going to get better anytime soon.
Review of The Pact (Katz’s Cat Twinkle Texas Cozy Mystery Series, Book 4)
by Dawn Greenfield Ireland
If you’re looking for a book to chill out with when everything else about this insane planet is just too much, I highly recommend this latest book in the Katz’s Cat Twinkle Texas Cozy Mystery Series. It doesn’t take long to get hooked on these charming characters and feel as if you live in the little town of Twinkle.
Actually, I live outside a town that’s even smaller than Twinkle, one that is so small that it doesn’t even have a traffic light, so I can relate to this small fictitious setting away from everything other than the full range of human behavior. As a pet lover, of course I enjoy the animals and their special talents, which include not only intelligence, but the ability to communicate using technology.
The series is now on book 4 where the folks in Twinkle, Texas are at it again. I love how the author has developed this setting with its own common expressions, such as referring to the grocery store as “the foo” since the sign is broken, and various other touches that make it seem real and that you’re a part of it. In this episode, Mrs. Potts’ boarding house burns down! Thus, Jimmy, Brian, Mrs. Potts, and of course, Maddie and Guppy, move in with Betty in the mansion. Of necessity, the folks who know about the animals’ special talents expands, especially as various threats manifest.
There are a few pretty serious parts as well as plenty of good information about having a plan to secure your property in case of a catastrophe. Other useful information includes the steps in building a house from the ground up and a few other things to think about, such as how much stuff you own and what a chore it would be to replace it.
There were plenty of scenes where I laughed out loud, some of the characters’ names alone worth a good chuckle. Turns out Guppy is showing some psychic abilities, which are likely to be developed further in future escapades. As with most series, it’s advisable to start with the first book since characters and situations from previous stories tend to show up. It’s easy to feel as if you’re a resident of this tiny Texas town as the host of characters come to life and interact, leaving you wondering what will happen next and longing for the next book in the series!
You can pick up a copy on Amazon here and read more about the author on a previous blog here.
Marcha's Two-Cents Worth 