One of my favorite activities is watching Pixar shorts on Disney+. I guess that’s one of the many advantages of having grandchildren – I have an “excuse” to have Disney+! I’ve also discovered everyone enjoys the shorts because they are brief, yet incredibly entertaining. They’re great for kids who don’t have an attention span as well as older folks who can’t always keep up with the plots in lengthy movies.
A favorite short of mine is titled “ Boundin”. Pixar created the short in 2003. It’s about a dancing sheep who gets sheared and receives encouraging, life changing words from a jackalope. Found this on YouTube…
Not really sure why I enjoy it. It might be that I identify with the poor sheep. It may also be the upbeat soundtrack. But what I really think it is, are the words of wisdom spoken by the jackalope…
“Now sometimes you’re up, sometimes you’re down. When you find that you’re down, well just look around. You still got a body, good legs and fine feet. Get your head in the right place and hey, your complete.”
I can’t count the number of times I’ve re-played those words in my head. The results are the same each and every time – a little chuckle (because I recall the entire, cute short) and a complete change of mood…followed by “What do you really have to complain about? Don’t you have more important things to do than wasting time feeling sorry for yourself?”
How or from where do you receive your “words of wisdom”? In other words…“Who or what is your “jackalope”? Ya know, that some-one/some-thing you can reach out to for advise or a change of mood/emotion/attitude. Better yet, do you have a shoulder to cry on?
I’ve found it’s much easier to cope with life’s challenges when I share them with others. It’s so easy to “trick” yourself into believing “I can handle this alone, on my little, isolated island all by myself because I know myself better than anyone else knows me.”
Stay away from the island. It’s a bad place.
And ya know what, it’s when I end up on that island my “jackalope” appears. Sometimes it takes the form of music. Sometimes it’s an unexpected phone call. Sometimes it’s a quote or story in a random book I happen to pick up because I’m searching for answers that may not exist.
My “jackalope” knows when it’s needed.
My “jackalope” always provides what I need most at that moment.
I believe everyone needs a “jackalope”.
So, again, I ask…
“Who or what is your jackalope?”
Dan’s View 