Duck!
Howdy, Bubba! Hey, if you're new around these parts, I just want to say how much I appreciate you dropping by! Oh, and you may want to subscribe to my feed. Thanks, and a tip o' the hat to ya!
Don’t ya just hate it when indecision strikes? You know what I mean, right? That awful, confused state of mind when you simply can’t make a decision?
It’s especially frustrating when you know a decision has to be made, and you just can’t seem to do it.
Mrs. MZM and I were riding our bikes around our neighborhood lake the other day when we found ourselves suddenly surrounded by most of the resident ducks.
Now, generally speaking, our ducks like people. I mean, what’s not to like? After all, whenever we’re around it usually means they get a variety of delicious tidbits to munch on. Hey, I can relate; giving me snacks pretty much guarantees getting on my Christmas card list! (Hint, hint.)
But normally the ducks are always in the water. In fact, it’s always fun to watch the entire flock zero in like little motorboats on whoever happens to be standing closest to the water, gathered around them just waiting for the shower of snacks to begin. They are rarely disappointed.
But this time we were greeted by an unusual sight. Nearly the entire flock was out of the water and on the grass; even spread out across the sidewalk and beyond. But no problem; as we approached, they sorta split up; some going right and the rest moving left. As we slowly rode our bikes through the flock, it felt kinda like Moses parting the Red Sea.
But there was this one duck who happened to be standing exactly in the middle of the sidewalk. You could tell he was in a conundrum; he just couldn’t seem to decide what to do. It was as if he simply couldn’t make up his tiny little mind which way to go. You could almost hear him panicking:
“Uh-oh; big human coming! What do I do? Should I go right? Or maybe left? I can’t decide? Aaaauuuuggggghh!”
We got so close, I thought we’d have to gently push the poor confused little darlin’ out of the way. He simply wouldn’t move!
When You Simply Must Decide
Well, I’ll tell ya, Bubba; I’ve been there! And I’ll bet you’ve been there too. So just for the fun of it, today I’m going to ask you to consider a few questions. Feel free to answer in the comment box!
When was the last time you had that experience? What did it feel like? Did you seek help from anyone? What did you learn from the experience - or did you? C’mon; tell me what you do when you MUST make a decision - and you simply can’t.
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Photo credit: duck, by dmoola
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26 responses so far
Middle Zone Musings is a comfortable place to stop, have a cup of coffee, swap a few stories and share practical ideas for the real world. I don't ask for much, just a bit of your brain every now and then. Have a seat, take a load off, and relax...
Robert, I can relate to that duck. The older I get the more I figure decisions will come when they come. I’m not in as much of a hurry as I used to be. Sometimes I get burned by waiting, but usually time pressure is more in my head than in reality.
Brad Shorrs last blog post..Did I Really Send That??
I can identify with that feeling, Brad. Why just the other day I got stuck trying to decide between paper and plastic! But you’re right, though; most of the time, the pressure to decide is really self-imposed. Unlike my friend the duck.
Man, you made me think too early this morning. I’m not sure what I would do “now” when I’m stuck trying to make a decision. That’s an odd statement, I know, it’s a long story.
I do know that in the past, if I were the duck, I would have took a quick survey to see which side of the road had the most other ducks, and went to that side, right or wrong. I’ll have to keep this post in the front of my mind today and see what I do during those decision making times. If I come up with anything, I’ll holler at ya!
Great post! Great Thoughts!
-Scott
Scotts last blog post..It was their fault not mine
Wait till the last minute, then close your eyes and jump!
What happened to the duck though? Did you hit it? Or stop and engage in conversation?
Joanna Youngs last blog post..Words On A Woman’s Investment
I thought the same thing…what happened to the duck? Is there an expression duck in the headlights?
sometimes when i am particulary indecisive I pause and look at the stress level I might be in… usually at those times it’s not always a great platform to make a decision - if I can pause and think on it… waddle on it ??
flap my wings and consult my flock on it ??
have a quackfrence call ??
ps … don’t choose paper or plastic …bring your own!!
@Scott - Er, sorry about the brain strain this morning, Scott. (I wondered what that noise was…) And be sure to lemme know how it works out for ya!
@Joanna - Actually, I’ve used that technique quite often. Can’t complain about the results, though. (Well, I guess I could complain, as if it would do any good!)
As for the duck… well, anybody got any duck sauce? (kidding! kidding!)
@Karen - “… like a duck in the headlights…” Hmmm… well, I wouldn’t have thought that phrase made much sense. At least until now, that is! I think it’s safe to say you can expect to see it pop up now and then in the future. Thanks, Karen!
Hmmm…I belive that the only times I find it hard to make a decission is when I’m under high pressure, but after a few moments I take a deep breath and focus and try to look at things as objective as I can. Most of the time it works. By the way - poor little duck
You know, when the pressure’s on is the absolute worst time to be making a critical life decision. That’s why it’s helpful to have decided BEFORE it happens. Now, if my friend the duck had already picked a direction to run, he obviously would’ve been able to skip the hysterics. Kinda like, er, most of us, don’cha think?
Very true post. It’s quite funny in life how it’s the simplest of decisions that we can find the most confusing.
I’m with Brad on this one, I think the older you get the less pressure you put on yourself to make quick decisions. This laid back attitude means sometimes you win and sometimes you lose, but if getting older teaches you one thing, it’s that life is far too short, so you should make the most of every day. Don’t stress. Making a quick decision is way down the list of priorities. The main thing is that whatever you decide, the sun will still rise in the morning. So that’s got to be good news.
Oh, so today’s topic is about duck, nice…
For your information, Robert while I used to live with my grandparents in country side, they always rearing many ducks and I can spending a whole day watching all the ducks and ducklings swimming in the pond and walking on the land, it’s a sweet memory indeed…
@Phillip - You’re right; sometimes that is the hardest decision to make. Why is that, I wonder? Any ideas?
@Judith - Keeping priorities straight means having some developed to begin with, though. Otherwise you end up having to rush TWO things!
I like the laid-back attitude, though; that’s pretty much my own philosophy too. At least as much as possible, that is!
Thanks for dropping by, Judith!
@Wilson - That’s something I enjoy doing too. That and watching the inevitable turtles.
Well, if at all possible - I try hard to sleep on a decision at least one night. I don’t stress about it, or fret about it when trying to get to sleep - I ignore it. Usually I wake up knowing what to do - and sometimes it’s something I’d never even considered. Of course, that wouldn’t work in the case of the duck…sitting in the way of humans approaching on bikes, there’s no time to lose! In that type of situation, I trust my gut instinct. The older I get, the less intuition seems to fail me!
I am having a hard time deciding which of my recent moment of indecision to share…..
Robert, poor duck! So which direction did he/she choose?
I can totally relate to that duck! Ideally I like to pray and wait but there have been times when answers have not come so I just pick a decision and jump right in! Of course, I pick the one that seems the most reasonable but er uh that is not always true. Hmmm, this is a good question!
@Yogi - Good for you! I think that’s definitely one benefit of life experience. But don’cha find sometimes ya just gotta choose - even when there’s no clear best choice?
@Luke - Man, I know exactly what you mean… *sigh*
@Karen - Interesting you should say that. We say the same thing about our own quick decisions. But the question is - are you right?
Do you think more of those decisions turn out to be “wrong” or “right” (for lack of a better term)? Or do you find even “wrong” decisions tend to “work out”? Bear in mind, we’re usually our own worst critics…
I took a hit in the rear at a red light. My car was a total wreck. Hubby was working out of state and I had to buy a “new” used car all by myself. I’d never done it before and I was scared spitless. I prayed, got advice from a couple of Christian car dealers, then finally bought one, knowing that I might have made a good choice or a bad choice. But, I also knew that God knew that I can’t see the future, didn’t know the best thing to do but did the best that I could. I think that’s called going on faith.
I learned that God can show me the right thing to do, and if I make a mistake, He is gracious when I seek Him and is able to pull my fat out of the fire.
I like what my brother-in-law does in these circumstances. He proCHRISTinates. He simply continues to pray and wait until he has a clear direction. God is never late.
Lavonda Pflugs last blog post..And Aren’t We Glad?
Lavonda, I hear what your brother-in-law says! And when we have the luxury of time, that’s pretty much our philosophy too. But sometimes, as in the case of your car, you simply have to move forward and just, you know, do it.
Good thing we have a God Who understands the quandary!
Sometimes the decisions make themselves. I find that it’s best not to run into the more difficult decisions sometimes. If you truly don’t know what to do about a situation, then sit on it for a while. Sleep on it. Meditate on it. See advice. Let it ride. Often the decision will become apparent on its own.
I am in a situation right now where I’m having to make a decision that will be complicated, no matter what I decide to do about it. Instead of obsessing, I gave it some space. Well it so happens that just today, the stars aligned and I realized what the right decision is. It will still be a challenge, but I know I’m doing the right thing.
Rarely does one need to make a big decision quickly.
Susan Murphys last blog post..Stop With the Scrambling Already!
Hey, thanks for leaving a comment, Susan, and welcome to the Middle Zone!
You know; I think you’re generally right about how big decisions rarely need immediate responses. And if they seem to, it’s usually because of, well, procrastination.
But what if an immediate decision was absolutely essential? It DOES happen, you know. What then?