What intrigues us about seeing animals wearing clothes? Maybe
it’s because they look so darn cute, and yet, so wrong. It’s those two
conflicting thoughts that keep our eyes glued on cats in dresses and dogs in
pants. Animals dressed in clothes usually look uncomfortable and confined from
living the way they were born to live. See how this makes you feel:
As you saw, no smiles there. The pictures were surprising,
amusing, and sad, all at the same time. Don’t ask me how they got the elephant
to do that, it probably took a patient seamstress with lots of thread. It
looked, and probably felt, awkward.What
persona have you ever worn, knowing it conflicted with your true self?
Is there a month-long April Fool’s joke going on? It is
officially spring; the daffodils are blooming, the rabbits are hopping, but the
weather’s not reflecting the season. When snow flurries landed on our car this
week, I told one of our kids that it was unusual to have the bright sunshine
along with the snow. A winter-weary voice from the backseat of the car moaned,
“Ugh, I feel like the weather is mocking me.” To make matters worse, weather
forecasters predict more flurries for the weekend.
Given all the meteorological technology weather people use,
we’ve been fooled into thinking that they know what to expect. Nothing could be
farther from the truth. In fact, this is the year to expect the unexpected. Let’s
be glad we’re not dealing with this:
https://youtu.be/jkOTCKLi89Q
Imagine if we had to spend a year without summer. People would
threaten sit-ins and protests—but against whom, against what? Scientist would appease
us by accelerating their weather-controlling experiments. I’m sure some expert
is already working on it. Think about the lives saved and the damage avoided if
we could prevent storms. We’re such plucky folks, trying to control everything.
What have you finally decided not to
try to control?
This week’s beautiful
weather almost made us forget what the future holds. Ignoring the red and
orange leaves, the high temperatures nearly convinced us to anticipate a second
summer. But, we know the truth, right? Get ready to smile if you enjoy cold
weather because, based on normal patterns, winter is on the way. No doubt about
it. Or is there?
In addition to
the cultural and political turmoil, the weather’s turning chaotic, too. Think
about the monster hurricanes, record heat, and unprecedented snow accumulations
we’ve seen. Forecasters think they can predict the weather until this happens:
https://youtu.be/iRtwv3v4Mq0
Given the unexpected news stories, the future is as unpredictable as ever. One of
the best ways to impact the future is to manage the present. If we want to see ourselves
at a specific place in the future (call it point C), we need to be prepared to
execute points A and B. What steps can you take now to impact your future?
Wind and
rain are two of our most powerful elements. Based on past hurricane seasons,
we’re familiar with the destruction they cause. Scientists discover and invent
so many incredible things, why can’t they control the weather? Maybe they can. See: https://www.intellihub.com/dr-michio-kaku-admits-government-weather-control-cbs-news/
For a fee, one
company offers weather–modifications, claiming to give you clear weather.
Cloud-seeding enables them to cause rain the day before your special outdoor event,
leaving you with sunny skies the next day for a wedding ceremony or company
golf outing. We’re closer to manipulating the weather than ever, and we’re
making progress in other areas, too. Take a look:
https://youtu.be/wMkorx3GzGM
Fascinating,
huh? Oh sure, those experimental findings seem beneficial—until scientists use their
powers for evil. Some of our greatest books describe what happens when others
control what we think, believe, and how we behave. If you had mind-controlling powers,
what thought would you implant in everybody’s mind?
Our mechanic recently installed a new battery in my vehicle’s
key fob, so why does it take about five
clicks to unlock the door?I click and
click until I’m standing alongside my vehicle, waiting to get in. Opening a car
door with a faulty key fob is frustrating. I stopped using the key a few years
ago and I guess I forgot that the key still works!
Habits develop faster than we realize, but they can take a
long time to break. Nearly everything we do on a frequent basis could evolve
into a habit. I wonder how long it took to form these tendencies:
If we believe our performances hinge on how we put on socks
or the number of times we tap the ground,
we’ve crossed over into the realm of ritualistic habits. They’re entertaining
and raise our comfort levels, but I’m not sure they’re dependable. What habits give
you confidence to do your best?
During our recent vacation we went horseback riding. It’s usually a lot of fun, even with the sore legs and stress I feel after the ride ends. It’s always a relief to return to the barn injury-free because anytime I climb onto a horse and grab the reins, I wonder who’s really in control.
Before our ride the guide told me that my horse had a “sensitive mouth” and then she showed me how to steer the horse with the reins, reins that connected to the horse’s mouth. Horses are smart, powerful animals with minds of their own, so I wondered how well the horse would respond to my commands. As we walked along the trail the horse kept stopping to eat the vegetation and that’s when our second riding guide showed me how to keep moving by pulling on the reins and slightly kicking the horse’s sides. So I’m supposed to pull at a sensitive mouth and kick. Was this a recipe for disaster?
Fortunately, it wasn’t. But after the ride, I heard that my horse had been bitten by a snake the day before. Was it in the mood to walk the trail? I don’t know. I can say that the rein instructions worked and my horse behaved. Despite my nervousness, the guides were pleasant and the ride was great—this time. In times past, I‘ve had some unsettling experiences with unruly horses.
Here’s a video of a horse not in the mood for a rider:
I like animals, especially horses, but they can have their moments. A trail guide can offer great instructions, but until animals talk, it’s mighty difficult to know what they think or what sets them off. You’ve heard the news stories about trained animals suddenly going on the attack and their handlers never see it coming.
We like to think that we’re in control, don’t we? Who or what really controls the reins in your life? Is it money, an addiction, your job, you, the boss, your spouse, your parents or someone/something else?
