I grew up in the south with lots of acreage and quietness.  I did not realize how much I loved trees until I moved away to college and then to the big city of Tampa.  When my husband and I started looking for our first house, it was a challenge.  As desires grew, at the top of my list were a kitchen pantry and Oak trees.  The lots were small and the houses were old!  But to me,  a yard was not complete without an Oak tree. I love the shade they provide and the housing they provide to birds. I always love to watch them blow with the wind.   

At our rehearsal dinner 14 years ago, my husband spoke about how much his dad reminded him of an oak tree.  He was grounded and strong and took each storm with grace. Today, that makes me think about how the Oak trees in my yard blow with the wind.  They just go with it.  We can all be more like an oak tree.  Be firmly planted with our roots and take both small and large winds with grace.  Remind ourselves that the wind with not last forever and that this too shall pass; appreciate the wind as well.  If there was no wind, life would be stagnant.  Wind brings great change!

In a effort to live more consciously, we just got our baby chicks to have a little bit of farm life in the city.   We should have eggs in about 6 months!  They are so cute and I really enjoying loving on these sweet creatures. When I look at them, I can’t help but think back to science class and learning abut imprinting.  I remember learning about how geese imprinted on the first creature they see after they hatched. And there’s no changing it!   (If you are a Twilight fan this may ring a bell too.)

Today, it made me then start thinking about conditioning.  This is totally learned.  So, while I was not there for their birth, I’m trying to condition them to not peck me when I go in their coop.  I want them to like to be picked up and think of humans as friendly.  I want them to welcome me into their surroundings.

So, like these baby chicks, ultimately we need to uncondition ourselves to the things we want to change about ourselves.  Maybe you have heard the term neuroplasticity to describe the human mind.  We always have the ability to change an unwelcomed habit.

Whatever it is, we have the ability to mold our actions in another direction. We just need to start the change. I have always heard it takes 2 weeks of doing something to make it a habit. Some studies say longer. I say make it small. If you want to stop eating meat, stop one type of meat for 2 weeks.  If you want to detox, eliminate 1 food for 1 week before you eliminate them all.  If you want to exercise more, start walking for 10 minutes a day and work up to 30. Baby steps are big.  It took years if not a lifetime to form the habit you want to change. You are most likely not going to change it overnight!  Be patient with yourself.  Condition yourself like you would a small baby chick! 🙂

Konrad Lorenz and his geese demonstrating imprinting.