About three weeks ago, we had a family of three rabbits move into our backyard. Not the wisest choice for real estate!
The rabbits somehow stumbled on our backyard, perhaps enticed by the slightly long, though spotty, grass and the security of the fence. They soon realized what a terrible mistake they had made. Our overzealous yet incompetent golden retriever constantly harassed them (he ended up going 0-41 on rabbit hunts). And our 11-year old daughter fruitlessly conducted a daily chase in the hopes of finding a new pet. It didn’t take long for the rabbits to move on to greener pastures.
Next stop was a beautiful, plush lawn a few doors down. It seemed an obvious choice to lay some roots and chew some grass. But alas, heavy foot traffic and even more menacing dog issues quickly led to another self-eviction.
About three days later, I went for a walk in the neighborhood and noticed the same three rabbits, blissfully chomping in front of a house around the block. The lawn was long and unkempt. The owners were elderly, rarely came out of the house, and did not own any pets. Yes, rabbits, you have now chosen wisely.
It took some trial and error. It some calculated risks. It took some resilience. But the rabbits finally settled into a comfortable home. And such is the journey we will be on throughout our lives.
We Have Options
Finding a place to call home is perhaps our most important mission in life. And it takes on many forms.
In our work lives, we may be attracted by a high income or prestige or the promise of security. There is nothing wrong with any of those. But it may come with the steep cost of compromising our morals, snuffing our true passion, or taking precious time away from our friends and family. That pristine green lawn may be stocked with too many menacing dogs. We have to step back and ask ourselves if it is worth it. We have to remain vigilant.
In our personal lives, we may be attracted to a certain person or a certain group of friends. At first glance, it may seem perfect. But beware of the grass that looks too good to be true. Perhaps there is an underlying threat. Perhaps, we need to scratch the surface and ask more questions. Perhaps we just don’t fit in. That is okay. Not every group is right for us. There are plenty of yards in the neighborhood!
We Can’t Move Too Quickly
But we can’t jump to greener pastures at the first sign of trouble. Sometimes, the dogs are friendly and just want to play. Sometimes, the foot traffic can be a welcome relief to the monotony. Everyone’s idea of home is different and we all have varying tolerance for risk and chaos.
We have to give our new home a fair shot. We have to push through some of the discomfort and threats. But we also have to maintain a proper perspective. We don’t need to subject ourselves to needless stress. We don’t need to be gluttons for punishment. Our true home is out there. We just have to keep looking.
We Will Find a Home
The key to resilience is knowing we have options. That inspires hope. That keeps us going through the dark times. We have to muster the fortitude to power through the difficult moments and the wisdom to know when it is time to search for a new home.
It will not be easy. We will mistakes. We will pull up stakes too quickly. We will stay too long and put our health and happiness in jeopardy. We will fail to recognize the threats to our security. But we will work it out through trial and error. We will take calculated risks that eventually pay off. We will stay resilient and keep searching.
Some journeys last longer than others. But eventually, everyone finds their home.