Tag: New Spaces

A New Environment

I watched a YouTube video recently. It was about a Betta fish – had no idea there was such a thing by the way – that was about to die and was rescued! Yes, it was about this fish. Now, as for me and where I am from, you eat fish no questions asked. Therefore, to rescue a fish would be seen as a very strange thing indeed!

The video begins with the rescuer of said fish giving an account of her first meeting with this very lucky-still-to-be-alive fish, which was not very good, “he was very pale and very skinny, he was missing his entire tail, it had completely rotted off”. What immediately came to mind was that a fisherman encountering such a harrowing sight would just throw the poor fellow back into the water and deem it a waste of time.

However, one man’s trash is most certainly another man’s treasure. Sparing no expense, because she could, she transferred him to a hospital tank – again a new bit of information here that I never knew! So, she ‘transplanted’ it to a new home and over time with love, food and care the sickly fish recovered. The once sickly pale and emaciated fish was replaced by one of the most beautiful fish I had ever seen, wearing a beautiful and vibrant salsa dress- well that is how the fins looked to me! The point is, in this new environment with better treatment the betta fish flourished and surprised even the owner.

That takes me to my current thought. In the wrong environment we too may find our lights dimmed, our potential stifled and our very lives slowly seeping away into the cracks of despair. There comes a time when a change of environment can do a world of good. There are some who stay too long at a rest stop and forget that they are on a journey. Maybe, just maybe from time to time we have to access our current situation, transplant ourselves somewhere else if we want to flourish and reach our full potential.

I want to Be MORE Imperfect

I found myself reflecting on some wild expectations I previously had. I never said and would never admit it, but all my life I have worked hard at being perfect. Based on circumstances beyond my control and because of those circumstances being beyond my control, I have tried to do the right thing, to be what others said I was. However, the more I try the harder I fell and failed. I trying to be perfect I have taken countless Ls.

So, I have decided not to try anymore. I won’t try to eat the right thing all the time, because when I do I crave more of the things I try to avoid and that is maddening. I wont try to meet those deadlines, because something always happens to push them back. I won’t try to say the right things all the time, because I have grown to be the hypocrites I do not like. I won’t try to be nice when no one asked or expects me to be nice. I won’t try to be always right, because I now know the hard way, “The way of a fool is right in his own eyes, but a wise man listens to advice” Proverbs 12:15. I won’t try to measure up to the next person, because I do not want to be anyone except myself, I think I am good enough for me.

Don’t worry, I do not intend to dream less and work towards what I am suppose to have but, I do not need to do it all and be all and have it all. I am content do display my many, many imperfections like a battle scare well earned. I have earned each failure because each reminded me that I am alive and that I am strong. In trying to be perfect I almost went mad, but I did not. Now I know I will bend but wont break or shatter and I take heart knowing this as I move ahead.