You are a goose!
How do I know this? Your honking laugh? Nah. Your Mother (think about it…)?
I know you are a goose because you are reading this blog.
I want to remind you of the fable The Goose and the Golden Egg.
As a brief refresher, the fable goes something like this.
A farmer was surprised one day to find that his goose had laid a golden egg. Thereafter, the goose laid a golden egg every day and the farmer became very rich.
He also become greedy so decided to kill the goose to get all the golden eggs out at once.
Alas, he found that there was no stash of golden eggs inside the goose and his golden eggs stopped, since he had killed the goose.
So, why are you the goose?
Think of all the things you do every day, all the people you are responsible for in some way, all the items you take care of – these are your golden eggs.
It us up to you to keep that goose healthy, so you can keep getting golden eggs.
What happens when the goose gets stressed out or sick?
First of all, it gets ornery and you DO NOT want to be around an agitated goose.
Secondly, it stops producing golden eggs. Or produces small, thin-shelled, ordinary eggs.
Does that sound like something you want to be known for?
I can see all of you thinking “YES! Sign me up for being ornery!” or “Today I will be mediocre!”
Of course that is NOT what we want!
Here are some ideas on how to take care of that goose, based on the four areas identified in the book, The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People by Dr. Stephen Covey:
1. Mental – keeping our brain power high
Play online Scrabble
Take a class
Learn another language
Work crossword puzzles
2. Physical – keep your body functioning at its best
Take a yoga class
Drink more water
Eat 1 fruit or vegetable at every meal
Take a multi-vitamin
3. Social/Emotional – establish & maintain relationships
Send an email to a family member just to catch-up
Go on a “date” with one of your children
As a Christmas gift for your niece, take her shopping or to a movie
Call your mother (she worries…)
4. Spiritual – connecting with a higher purpose
Attend a religious ceremony
Take a walk in nature
Read “The Purpose Driven Life”
Volunteer for a good cause
This list is meant to be a thought-starter, not exhaustive. For those of you who are thinking “how am I going to squeeze MORE things into my day?!”, think efficiency.
Some things fit into two or more categories, such as taking a walk in nature can count for physical and spiritual renewal. For the creative, some can count in all four! For example, bible study with your girlfriends while on stationary bicycles!
What are you going to do this week, to start taking better care of that goose? After all, you want golden eggs, right?
Leaving you with this from the lighter side: I try to take one day at a time, but sometimes several days attack me at once!
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