To Mate for Life

There's a funny thing about love and happiness.  At their essence, they're permanent and pure.  We know this.  And yet whenever they're dangled in front of us, we often completely forget, convincing ourselves they're these fickle little creatures we have to track down, sneak up on, and dive toward with cupped hands to swiftly entrap them in our grasp.

About a week ago, I took a late-night drive out to Skaneateles Lake, which has long been my emotional spa.  I've shared many a dream and confessed many a secret to its crisp, clear waters.  Its quaint shorelines have absorbed liters of tears and lovingly sent me back on my way each time with restored faith that there was more to the universe than the pain and uncertainty of that particular moment.

Feeling eerily lost and frightened on the edge of the pier that evening, I heard a comfortingly familiar cacophony from the void beyond the lights' reach. 

"Oh, dear ducks!" I beckoned, "You mate for life!  How is it possible?  And how do you do it?"

Moments later, a response rolled in with the waves.  "We can swim and walk and fly."

"But I can't fly.  And I can barely swim."  It was useless.  Confirmed. 

"That does not matter," echoed a collective voice.  "You'll know in time."

I eventually wandered back to my car, feeling just as lost as I had when I arrived.  But the ducks followed through on their promise.  The next afternoon, I happened to look up at the exact moment a lone Mallard flew high overhead, higher than I've ever seen a duck fly before.  As I stood there, mesmerized, another message came through loud and clear.

"We can swim and walk and fly...and we remember we can do it all on our own." 

That's the truth I'm clinging to in this scary, unstable moment--that everything that is truly "ours" is ours no matter who we're with or not with.  Love and happiness are no exception.  We don't need to manipulate them or covet them for personal gain.  And we don't need to compromise who we are in order to maintain a successful, healthy relationship.