A false sense of security

As I took my morning walk today I saw a bunny. It is not uncommon to see at least one bunny when I walk, but this particular bunny caught my eye because he (she?) didn't run as I approached. It continued to munch away on the vegetation as I walked past.

Why? Because the bunny was on the other side of a chain link fence and beyond my reach.

The bunny felt safe because the fence provided a barrier of protection. What the bunny didn't know was that the fence surrounded our neighbor's dog run - and he was on the inside!

Blackjack, the dog, wasn't in the area - he's too old to bother chasing a bunny anyway, so the bunny really was safe. (Maybe it wasn't such a "dumb bunny" after all.)

This made me think about the times I've felt safe when I really shouldn't and the times when I've not felt safe when I should have.

I have chosen to place my self in "danger" by, among other things, going whitewater rafting and flying with $5 Frank.

Then there were the times when I have felt fearful when there was no need, usually in situations when I was "on stage", either figuratively, or literally.

In both cases my reaction was a choice. So, what did I learn from my bunny buddy? Examine your situation and remember to choose your reaction wisely.

Oh, and the bunny? I saw it again this afternoon. This time it was outside of the fence, and it still didn't run from me!

Rain!

The rain is finally returning to our area.

It has been dreadfully dry - so dry that my sunflowers barely reach my knee. In the past they have grown taller than I am - usually well over six feet high.

I have watered my garden plants enough to keep them alive, but they always respond better to rain. At the beginning of May, when the rains first began, everything perked up and looked much greener even after the most brief rain shower. I'm looking forward to seeing how my garden grows with sufficient rain.

It seems that our lives are like that. We have basic needs that must be met, and we seek ways to meet those needs that aren't always authentic. We may grow a little, but that growth is stunted when we substitute a "good enough" solution for the best.

So, how do you know what's best for you? The words of Plato come to mind:
"Know thyself."

Abraham Maslow describes a hierarchy of needs .

Douglas B. Richardson offers this career advice.

Numerous sites offer quizzes that will "reveal" your personality and more. When taken with a grain of salt, they can be entertaining and somewhat informative. (If nothing else, you will learn whether on not you enjoy quizzes!)

While it may take some effort on your part, you will be delighted when you learn to recognize the "rain" you need to help you grow to your full potential.