The way to get anything done is a step at a time. One little step. Martha Beck calls them turtle steps. I don’t know about you, but I’ve been known to act like a rabbit. Sprint like heck, and then get so pooped out that I abandon everything and nap for a week. When I act like a turtle and take small steps on a regular basis, I get a lot more accomplished and it’s amazing to look back and see what I completed!
It’s just like hiking the Appalachian Trail – it’s five million steps and over 2000 miles– but you can’t think that way – you have to just keep walking a little every day.
Turtles keep coming to find me to remind me to take turtle steps. And the most recent ones I’ve seen have also been submerged in muddy water – I wonder what that means? Don’t be afraid to get a little dirty? Don’t be afraid of murkiness? Go to the spa?
About a week ago I was on a wordless walk with a dear friend and I took her to my favorite tree. This was the tree where I saw my turtle about two months prior, but I really didn’t expect to see her, as she had been sitting on the forest floor a good 30 feet from the tree last time. Well, apparently my favorite tree might also be hers as well! We arrived at the base of the tree, and there she was, completely submerged in a mossy puddle made by the tree roots. We sat for quite a while and she finally moved, sticking her neck out.
I felt very honored to see this wild turtle again – I know they have small home ranges, but it was still mighty special.
Today I worked diligently, but with free time built in too (I’ve learned that my mind will go into complete and utter rebellion and give up on any system if there isn’t some fun built into every day – like a quick dip in the neighborhood pool) and this evening, who did we see in our garden but our own turtle who lives in the yard? We rarely see her and there she was, drinking the air conditioning condensation water in our tiny horsetail-planted wetland.
I count these sightings as auspicious messages from the universe. All is well. And I’m enjoying life, one step at a time, and savoring as I go.