Originally Posted 9/14/2020 (Article Updated 5/25/2022) By Meghann Bierly
If only through analogies, what can we learn from sharks in how to survive the challenges we are faced with today as parents. I have found my mama bear instincts to be useless during these times, and in my search for another way was drawn by none other than, Mommy* Shark, Doo Doo Doo.
* “Mommy” is used throughout this article but is interchangeable and meant to encompass all roles of any parent, grandparent, caretaker, educator, and/or individual nurturing our children in any way.
Over the last couple of years, I have realized my mama bear skills are useless in protecting my family in the face of all the challenges surrounding us. Instead, I have been searching for peace and direction in how to move forward and to continue to support my family, friends, and community.
When I look for peace both physically and mentally, I always end up thinking about water. Water can be soothing and calming. However, water also has the power to be forceful and feel unrelenting. It is all about finding our balance in the water both at calm and peace and when we are tasked with weathering a storm and the waves it brings.
When caught in a storm, one’s sense of balance and direction can be lost. However, we know a storm does not last forever. We can withstand and endure, and trust the calm will come again. What skills do we have and do we practice to weather the storms we encounter? Do we dig in our heels and hope we are able to keep our footing? Do we hang on and ride it out? Do we just strive to stay afloat and allow the storm to take us, not knowing where we will end our journey? I think when we are faced with a challenge that is predictable or we have been through before, we can use skills we have learned in the past. We have learned to stand back up, pick up the pieces, and put ourselves and our lives back together. However, some of the challenges we are facing today are new for our generation and the risks of these storms may feel overwhelming. How do we survive? How do we protect the physical and mental health of both ourselves and our families?
When I lean into the water and storm analogies, I remember that sharks have survived in our oceans for about 400 million years. They have endured changes to their environments and adapted. They have survived challenges that dinosaurs could not. They must have some skills that we can learn from, if only in analogies and metaphors.
In our current storm of a global pandemic, human rights, climate change, etc. I am open to any support to help us weather and survive these storms and ever present under currents. I have decided for my family, I am not willing to just float along passively not knowing where this journey will take us. I am terrified by where we may end up if all I do is merely stay afloat. I am hopeful for our society and for future generations that we will adapt and make changes that benefit us all.
Adapting means to change [something] so that it functions better or is better suited for a purpose. I believe if we strive to be aware and understand our surroundings we can define our purpose and live with intention towards that purpose. In order to be aware, we will need to quiet the noise, listen and focus, and be open to feeling the reality that surrounds us (even though it may be uncomfortable) . In the weeks to come, we will discuss how we can maintain our balance and continue moving forward through these challenges focused on a purpose and with intention.
I invite you to take some time and grab your journal or a notebook to document this journey we are on and begin to develop a travel plan for how you will keep moving forward. To get started, let's make a couple of notes to organize our thoughts and gain awareness of where we are right now at this moment.
Think about the past few months...
What are some things that have changed in your life?
What are the biggest challenges you or your family have faced or are facing?
What adaptations have you or your family made to overcome some of these challenges?
Despite the current challenges, what are you grateful for?
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