"Nature is Change"

I gotta tell you that I love Pixar films. My kids love them, my husband loves them, and I could watch them over and over. And because I have three kids, I end up watching them over and over and over. Fine with me.

Recently, they've been into Ratatouille. In case you haven't seen it, it is about a rat named Remy who is passionate about food. He loves good food and happens to live in Paris, a mecca for great cooks and great food. The problem is, obviously, that he is a rat and humans don't look on rats in their houses, much less their kitchens, too kindly. As you may have guessed, he ends up cooking in the best restaurant in Paris and is elated.

Meanwhile, his father finds out what he is doing and is very disappointed and concerned. He does not trust humans because they have a history of killing rats. There is a very poignant scene when Remy's dad takes Remy to a shop that is selling rat poison. It has rat traps with rats hanging in them in the store front. The audience sees the brutality of "pest control" on display.

His father, making his point to Remy about the reality of how humans feel about rats states "You can't change nature." And Remy retorts "Change is nature."

My take on this exchange is that when you follow your passion, you can create what you want in this world. You can be a rat who loves cooking and food and against all odds, becomes a great chef in Paris. You can create different kinds of relationships between animals and humans and between humans and humans. Every moment is an opportunity to be different. To make a different choice. To tell a new story.

Have you been seeing things a certain way and can't conceive of things changing any time soon? Are you absolutely certain that "you can't change ______"? What rules have you made for yourself or others have made for you that have narrowed your point of view?

You may consider taking a step back and remembering that "change is nature". Change is our friend, not a scary thing that we try to avoid. Change allows us to look at things in a new way. It gives us wiggle room to see the infinite possibilities. Allow change. Welcome change. If you can, embrace change.

Leave your comments and insights about how change has served you in your life.

Is Your Egg Cracking?

The other day my 6 year old daughter proposed playing a powerful game with me. She said that she wanted me to pretend to be the "mommie spider" and she was my spider egg. She sat, all curled up, on my lap. She said that I loved my egg so much. Then the egg starts to crack and I get scared that I'm losing it. Finally, I see that inside this egg is a baby spider. I am elated to see that I now I have something even better.

Now, the reason I thought this was a powerful game was because it felt like a metaphor for what so often happens in our lives. We have our "eggs" in life. We focus on them and nurture them and love them. We become very attached. Until one day, the eggs start to crack. We start to worry or even panic, because our eggs are breaking. Things are changing drastically and we don't know what will happen. Our lives are falling apart. But, the Universe knows something that we don't. There is a baby spider inside that egg. The egg needs to crack for the baby to come out and show itself.

So, when things start to fall apart or change or crack I'm not so afraid. Sometimes, when I'm feeling more connected, I even get excited. What will come of this cracking? What little baby spider will emerge from this breaking up? There's nothing to do, but watch, stay alert, and be open to what is.

Anything cracking or breaking apart in your life right now? Are you worried about the unknown future? You will be able to handle what ever happens. In fact, all you have to do is stay connected and stay alert. The rest will be shown to you. You might just be pleasantly surprised.