per·i·pa·tet·ic
ˌperēpəˈtedik/
adjective
  1. 1.
    traveling from place to place, especially working or based in various places for relatively short periods.
    "the peripatetic nature of military life"
    synonyms:nomadic, itinerant, traveling, wandering, roving, roaming, migrant,migratory, unsettled
    "I could never get used to her peripatetic lifestyle"
  2. 2.
    Aristotelian.
noun
  1. 1.
    a person who travels from place to place.
  2. 2.
    an Aristotelian philosopher.

Thursday, March 24, 2011

Counting Chickens: Superstitious or Intuitively Cautious?

Peanut "counting" Daughter's friend's chickens

Remember when mom or someone older and wiser used to advise against counting your chickens before they were hatched? I can't count how many times while growing up that I heard the warning. Or, "don't put all of your eggs in one basket. You never know what might upset it." More often than not, when I failed to heed the warnings, something did happen to alter my plans or tip the basket, sending those eggs crashing to the ground. And it's not easy for me to just go with the flow like so many people are capable of doing when something doesn't go according to plan. I tend to kick against the goads, so to speak. Stubborn, that's what I am.

I'm wondering if I'm also becoming superstitious. Lately, those old words of caution are reverberating in my thoughts. I am keeping certain plans and dreams for the future close to the chest or vest now. What I'm hoping is that superstition isn't playing me for a fool but that intuitive caution is taking over as I get older. I don't want to be pessimistic, just not overly optimistic. It's a delicate balance. Gardening is one way I keep things in perspective. I've learned to not say anything about planting seeds but wait until the harvest. And I'm certainly not going to spill any beans about writing works in progress (WIPs). How about you? Do you lay out all of your cards on the table or keep a few facedown?

Disclosure: The author had nothing to do with this chicken incident but can verify that no chickens were harmed in the making of this post. The cat, however, may have suffered some psychological or emotional trauma. She is being monitored and will be treated appropriately.

22 comments:

  1. omg, I'm such a blabbermouth, I'm afraid everyone knows what I'm doing the minute I make up my mind... :D

    but these are all very good sayings. And funny how they're all related to poultry. LOVE that picture, btw~ <3

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  2. I'm a 'go with the flow' type of gal, but quiet, as is my nature. I'm guessing I keep a few of my cards facedown, but not intentionally. I have always been laid back and soft spoken, but a few years ago I had to scale even that down to just taking one day at a time as a survival technique. Just remember to live each day to it's fullest and to count your blessings at the end of each and every day. ~karen

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  3. Most people are afraid of failure, ( i know I am ) and so we tend to not want to tell others what our plans our because then people ask and if we failed we have to tell them. Does that make sense at all?
    So I am the type that doesn't tell at all. I should care less about what people think. I am working on that.

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  4. I am usually a lay the cards on the table type of person. Not always a good thing but it is what it is. Good luck with your plans and plants.

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  5. This reticence is a new thing for me, LTM. I've always been more inclined to blab about what I'm going to do. I'm going to compare results and see how things progress. It is strange how the chickens are involved with it. Now I'm wondering what the history is behind the saying.

    Karen, that's very good advice, and I'm working on following it. It's not second nature yet.

    Rosey, you make perfect sense. I've always been pushed and push myself to succeed in whatever I attempt, so it is disheartening to lose or fail. I need to put more bounce into my falls, 'cause they is goin' to happen.

    Tina, I'm glad you're brave. It's encouraging to a wimp like me.

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  6. Hmmm. I've always preferred to to underestimated by others. That makes success all the sweeter. :)

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  7. I also prefer going under the radar, I'm naturally quiet so that helps, I'm not much for superstition though..

    I hope things work out for you.

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  8. I'm definitely a 'cards on the table' kind of girl. I just can't contain myself! I guess I'm an optimist too!
    Enjoyed the photo, thanks for posting it.

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  9. And don't put them all in one basket either!

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  10. I tend to be bold about things that I probably can't do, because I find abject failure quite funny, but with things releated to work I am as cunning as a cunning badger. That's a little bit less cunning than a fox.

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  11. Dear walk2write,
    I am superstitious in some ways (wouldn't go under a leddar - maybe while crossing the road a car might catch me, but I'll risk that :-) As to plans it is as with the name you want to give your baby: everybody has a strong opinion about that - seldom in favour - so I kept quiet in the end; and with things to write, too (to a certain degree or amount of pages typed) - too many people have strong ideas, well - nice, but then it wouldn't be my text.

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  12. I am one of those people who wears her heart on her sleeve, so people usually know what's going on with me, to a certain extent. But there are some things that I don't reveal, because I don't want to have to admit failure to other people. I definitely don't "count my chickens" beforehand--there are too many coyotes out there that can change the situation!

    Good thing there was a window between kitty and the chicks:)

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  14. Hi Walk2write,

    This is a very different post, a personal one..You indeed have opened to us a portion of your personality..but still you keep the company of nature..that shows how much attached to the nature is your personality..

    Also thanking you for posting such a nice comment below my interview..

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  15. It seems that superstition isn't the reason not to tell your stories before writing them so much as the very likely possibility of losing momentum and desire to actually write them. I don't tell until I've got the story written.

    I signed up for the A-Z Challenge and saw your blog listed so I just stopped by to say hello. I look forward to reading your alphabet posts.

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  16. What a fun blog! Found you from the A to Z Challenge and look forward to more.

    KarenG

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  17. Since I have so little time to myself for writing I usually don't take part in the challenges and simply write when I can, but it's fun to follow those who do!

    I use to always tell of ideas and my good fortune in things. My husband is more in your camp and if nothing else has made me a bit more cautious about always sharing things.

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  18. That might be good advice. From now on my lips are sealed. Well, maybe.

    Lee
    Tossing It Out
    Twitter hashtag: #atozchallenge

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  19. TB, now that's some good advice. Selling oneself short goes against the grain, but then--like steak--it's much easier to chew once the project has been cooked.

    Myne, I'm quiet too in real life. It's only on the blog that I've tended to blab too much, and now I seem to be paying for it. Never used to be superstitious, but the "coincidences" keep piling up.

    JTW, I think you've nailed the problem. Lukewarm faith is worse than none at all. It's all or nothing. Gotta remember that.

    Mirckur, not sure what chat chat is all about, but thanks for stopping by. I hope you don't mind if I don't click on your links. In fact, thanks for reminding me to put something in the note to commenters about leaving advertising links.

    Mr. S, excellent advice!

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  20. IG, what a playful spirit you have! Just about everything I do is work to me (hazard of being independently employed and a lifelong student), so failure has never been acceptable. Inevitable, maybe, and probably funny to someone but definitely not to me. *sigh*

    Britta, you and I must be kindred spirits. One of the most difficult classes I've ever taken was a creative writing course in college. Not because it was hard for me to write for it but because we had to submit our rough drafts to every person in the class for critiquing. There were almost as many opinions about the text as there were students, and it kinda smothered my enthusiasm for writing. It's not dead yet but gasping for air.

    Rose, yup, there are wolves or coyotes right at the door. I'm glad I'm not the only one who's heard them whining and scratching to get in.

    Tomz, you're welcome, and thanks for noticing some of my true nature!

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  21. Thanks for stopping by and commenting, Ms. Gail! You're right about that loss of momentum. When I'm working on a story, I don't like to share rough drafts. There are conflicts going on that need to work themselves out. Ideas tend to fall apart if brought to light too soon.

    Thank you, Ms. Karen. I will be visiting you very soon.

    CissB, for some reason since I signed on to the challenge I have less time than I anticipated for this challenge, but I'm not going to give up on it. That just proves how stubborn I am. Or is it something else?

    Arlee, you're not alone in arguing with yourself about it. I've pretty well developed whatever those muscles are called that are good for kicking oneself in the posterior.

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  22. Kitties forehead does look a bit flat. I am sure that fur baby is hoarse from meowing also. I know my girls would have tried to get them little fluff balls...

    While in TN I stopped by Rual King where I picked up a baby chick. My mom said, "no and put it back young lady".... Gee, I had to try....

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