Learn From The Kittens...

I was watching the kittens today as they wrestled and fought one another all across the room. They have this little trick that I found interesting to observe. Whenever one is trying to rest and the other wants to play, the routine is simple. The playful one walks up to his brother and begins to wash and clean him very softly and gently, and by doing this the resting brother is slowly lulled into a state just short of sleep.

Just as soon as this happens, the playful one makes his move. He attacks his resting, unsuspecting brother, usually from behind and takes the upper hand. The former resting brother has no choice except to be drawn into the game or fight, disadvantaged and struggling just to catch up. Of course, the playful brother is happy as he can be now that he has his way. In his mind he has won just by the very fact that he has brought another down to his level.

Life is a lot like this game played by the kittens. Most of us go about our daily lives in a restful state, not wanting to get caught up in a war of wills or a game played by someone Else's rules. We blissfully chose to ignore the playful sneaky ones coming up behind us, stroking us and softly lulling us into that state just short of sleep...and then it happens! POW!!

Blindsided and ambushed, we are drawn into the game or war of wills. It doesn't matter if it is office politics, traffic jams, lovers' quarrels , even simple discussions with friends that suddenly become less than friendly. All of the sudden we are playing by someone Else's rules. We have totally lost sight of our original goals and plans as we are involved further and further in a situation controlled by another.

Any time that we give up control of our choices to someone else, we lose. Anytime that we start letting ourselves be forced into playing by an other's rules, we lose. If we don't keep our goals and our plans in sight and in our mind, we lose. If we slip into a trap of complacency and don't watch the sly and seemingly innocent movements of those wanting to be in control, we lose.

Let's chose not to lose. Let's chose instead to strive to be winners. Let's chose to not listen to the nay sayers and controllers that want to be in charge of our lives. Let's not allow others to chose the path we travel, the thoughts we have , or the way we run our lives.

Let's all stay true to ourselves, maintain and control our own destiny, work toward our own goals and visions, and follow our own hearts. If we keep our own counsel, we continue to be the Captains of our own ships!

Now let's go get some fresh coffee...