Year of the What?

For the Chinese, this might be the Year of the Pig, the Earth Pig in particular, an animal we might not consider particularly smart, but celebrated nonetheless by all and sundry for its quirky nature and delectable taste, if you happen to like that sort of thing. For me though, it has definitely been the Year of the Ladybug, or Ladybird, whichever you prefer, for my house has been inundated with these delightful little creatures all year, popping up in the most unlikely places. Nearly drank one the other day in a glass of water left on the kitchen bench overnight. No matter how hard he bug-paddled there was no way he was going to make it out again, so yet another rescue mission was launched.

The Pig is the twelfth sign in the Chinese zodiac, a symbol of wealth, and those born in its year can supposedly look forward to a life where they will be favoured with good skills at socialising and maintaining interpersonal relationships. As I delved deeper into the expected individual characteristics of those born at this juncture of the cycle, I came across an entire lowdown on ‘Careers fit for Pigs,’ rather unfortunate wording I thought. I then wondered what those born next year can look forward to in terms of ‘Careers fit for Rats.’ Doesn’t sound like a future I’d like to pursue.

Apparently, I was born in the Year of the Tiger, so I’m supposed to be a born leader, brave, forceful, full of fiery passion, power and stateliness. That is so not me. I’ve never bothered to consult my star sign either to see if Sagittarius is in someone else’s moon or house and therefore will have some influence on what happens to me this week. If I did believe in the power of zodiac signs, I would like to have been born in the Year of the Ladybug. Small, quiet and unassuming, usually hidden from view but going about its business without seeking attention, removing destructive pests with a minimum of fuss, contributing to the health of the environment, and making people smile when they come across it quite by chance.

Some of that describes me to a tee, not sure about the pest eradication role though. I’m happy to get stuck in when faced with all sorts of mess, but if the opposing force needing to be dealt with is of the human variety I’ll run a mile rather than deal with confrontation.

When it comes down to it, life is what you make it. Our actions pay testament to those forces we allow to influence our lives and the direction we take, whether we choose to be optimists or pessimists, contributors or users, self-aware or self-absorbed. For good or bad, situations beyond our control come our way which have the potential to either present us with unforeseen opportunities, or throw us completely off our axis. Such moments test our courage, resolve, and character. No matter what life throws at us though, we can still choose how we respond.

When things don’t go as planned, we can buckle at the knees, become overwhelmed, angry, bitter, vengeful, looking at every turn for someone to blame for our troubles. Initial reactions to trauma or any type of personal tragedy are instinctual, but as reality sinks in and we gain some perspective, we often discover there are untapped wells of strength, courage and ability inside us on which to draw. Daring to see beyond the pain to a future where our experiences can contribute to the healing of both ourselves as well as others on similar journeys, can be the impetus to get us moving again.

And when positive opportunities present themselves, we’re not normally in the habit of simply thanking our lucky stars. Rarely do such moments just land in our laps. There are no shortcuts to realising our dreams, so when things do fall into place, more often than not it’s the result of our diligence, persistence and good judgment, both personally and interpersonally, that sees us reap the benefits.

While I’ve been musing over all this, my resident ladybug has trekked around the desk, up and over pens and notebooks, oblivious to where my mind has wandered just by making its appearance. Thought I’d lost him, or her, but there it was, right near my hand on the edge of the desk, waiting patiently to be rescued and put back outside in amongst the plants. So roll on, Year of the Ladybug, I’m honoured to host your adventurous forays into my domain, and more than happy to align myself with your exquisite characteristics.

Now, where can I find a red jumper with black spots?

Ladybird, Ladybird, fly away home

Yet another ladybird

infiltrates the house

treks across the desk

tickles my hand

heads up the tunnel of my sleeve

explores until I coax him out

checks out what I’m writing

from the tip of the pen.

Unimpressed

he moves on

up and down each finger

round and round the page,

goes missing for a moment

till he reappears once more

on the tip of the pen

to find himself

immortalised in print.

Maintaining the Magic

Had a strange Harry Potter moment on the way home from town a while back, at the intersection where one signpost points to both Perth and Hobart, which in Tasmania makes perfect sense. We’d stopped to let oncoming traffic go past, when a van drove by with Magic Wand Cleaning emblazoned on the side.

It was obviously a cleaning company, claiming they could transform your home or workplace with speed and efficiency, but my passenger had a different take on it. Did they mean magic wand CLEANING, magic WAND cleaning, or MAGIC wand cleaning?

We dissolved into laughter as we anticipated making a phone call requesting their services for the cleaning of wands which were no longer working efficiently, hoping that their original powers would return once they were correctly cleaned and serviced. Not knowing the mileage on a magic wand, I imagine it might be like other resources we use like batteries and cars, fridges and washing machines, which seem to hum along quite nicely for most of the time…until all of a sudden, they don’t.

In the world according to Harry Potter, you do not choose your wand, your wand chooses you, so looking after it is a major responsibility. It becomes a lifetime commitment, making sure you have it by your side at all times should a situation arise in which it is needed to avert certain disaster. Usually, a wand has only one master, but as Harry proved once disconnected from his own lifeline, this was not always so. How you keep your wand in good working order I’m not sure; it’s not as if you can plug it in somewhere, fire it up again and prolong its life.

It’s not rocket science knowing how to maintain the physical things we use day in day out. We intend to get the car serviced regularly, but more often than not we wait until there’s an ominous noise under the bonnet, or a suspicious light comes on to tell us all is not well. Our household appliances only receive attention when they don’t do what is expected of them; I mean, how dare all those whirring gizmos not keep working after decades of constant use.

Maintaining the other parts of our lives though, the mental, emotional, creative and spiritual parts, is not always as straightforward. We don’t come with instruction manuals and warranties. Keeping those facets of our lives healthy and thriving in a world that expects and demands so much, can be confusing to say the least. Doing what is right under our noses takes precedence, so finding meaning in the midst of the everyday, mundane things that consume us has to come from somewhere else.

Back in my day, when the monotony or pressure became too much to bear, people packed themselves off to go and ‘find themselves,’ or embarked on a mid-life crisis to escape the entrapment and disappointment of what they felt their lives had become. These days many students take a gap year at the end of their education, sometimes wandering the world in search of experiences to enlighten or stimulate them, to help focus their life direction. Nice for those who can afford it, and it might appear self-indulgent, but wouldn’t we all love to have some time out now and again to review where we’re at, and assess whether what we’re doing is in line with where we dreamed we’d be however many years ago.

It’s easy to lose the magic. New jobs, careers and study options start out with such promise. We are full of enthusiasm, but all too soon disenchantment can set in as the reality of our choices begins to take control of our daily routine.

Without a magic wand to assist in our battles, other strategies must be found. Harry Potter and his closest friends Ron and Hermione; Frodo and Sam and the Fellowship of the Ring; Han Solo, Luke Skywalker and Princess Leia, and the list could go on, all represent the dramatic portrayal of a small group facing seemingly insurmountable odds in the interplay between good and evil, and making sense of the world in which they live. The ultimate responsibility might fall to one person, but as we find in our own less dramatic lives, you can’t go it alone. Each has his or her role to play, each is an integral part of the solution. Whatever the obstacle, they’re in it together, relying not only on their own strength, but on that of each other and the belief that spurs them on in their quest. But there is an extra dimension at play as they face what they most fear.

Their true character is brought into question. Are they up to the task, are they willing to go on when all seems lost, are they prepared to sacrifice themselves if need be for the benefit of others? They are not necessarily questions we face on a daily basis, but knowing I have a bunch of true friends who would stand by me and with me if needed is a good place to start when the going gets tough.

So, when it comes to facing the world without a wand, when life seems a bit tarnished and lacklustre or downright hostile, it’s good to know we have more options than simply giving up, or quaking in our boots and running in fear. Whether we believe it or not, there will be a small band of mates on standby ready to come on side, if we only have the courage and good sense to ask.

For when things do fall into place when least expected, when circumstances turn themselves around when all seemed lost, when relationships are retrieved and reconciled, or when we’re simply blown away by Nature displaying all its glory, we can feel truly blessed in these moments. We may not be in the habit of pursuing or expecting them, but when they come our way, when we’re taken by surprise, when they land like an undeserved gift and cause us to smile, give thanks, connect with others, or simply be grateful for the skin we’re in, such moments can be extraordinarily profound.