How Do You Eat a Bear?
“A young woman of old surrounded by a population of giants responds to a comment made by her Priest of all the changes she’ll have to make in order to get along and fit in.
She wonders back, “Father, have you considered it just might be the others making all these changes?“
“I fear you’ve set yourself an impossible goal,” he chuckled.
“How impossible?” she asked. “As impossible as my eating a giant Bear by myself? I could do it you know.”
The Priest, appreciating a good sense of humor, responds with a smile, “How?”
“I can, Father,” the young woman replies, “One Bite At A Time!”
Today I was reminded of this small segment in a book while I paced from room to room surveying all the unfinished tasks and projects and goals I had set for myself from the day before. I’m ok with not completing my entire “wish” list of tasks but yesterdays efforts seemed less than desirable as I was caught up in my families dramas, needs and distractions.
Intellectually, I know the importance of being organized, planning out the day before I begin it (maybe the night before even) and sticking to the Plan. Life, though, always seems to throw a curve ball into my “good intentions.”
I’ve repeatedly drummed the importance of my purpose at home to my family. I stress the need for time, space and lack of interruption to accomplish my desire for a livelihood from home. I haven’t made much of a dent in their understanding.
This mornings drama of searching for a coveted hoodie, seemed an extension of the day before. It’s my tendency to look and search for something until I find it (this can take days, months, years until I get it into my head the item is truly lost; I know, it‘s a shortcoming I can‘t seem to overcome).
It took me a moment but I became consciously aware that I myself added to the drama and distracted myself by involving my energy along with my daughters. I allowed myself to get distracted from my purpose.
Ok, enough!
It was then I then remembered being impressed with the above. Ahh, that put a bit of focused perspective on the day. In order for change to happen, I have to be a part of the Change!
I stopped searching high and low for the hoodie and declared that I would not make a lunch I specifically reminded someone to prepare the night before. Today I took a bite out of the Bear enabling the change I wish to accomplish.
There is always going to be interruptions and distractions, that’s a given! But as is my tendency, I can persistently focus my energy in searching for those Changes I seek! As far as that mountain of tasks I desire to accomplish? Maybe I wont get everything done in one day, but I can consistently chew through them “One Bite At A Time.”














