Are you Acting like a Barnacle?

A recent trip to California's central coast got me wondering--How is my thinking like a barnacle?

Barnacles are fascinating.

When I first moved to Seattle, I trained as a volunteer beach naturalist with the Seattle Aquarium and was surprised when an enthusiastic marine biologist threw herself on the floor, raised her legs up high and twirled them.

"This is a barnacle eating!" she exclaimed.

You see, as adults, their heads are stuck to the surface of the rock or boat or whale they live on and their little legs fish for plankton.

She explained that barnacles start off as tiny swimming plankton, then they start to explore surfaces for possible future homes, then they commit. Once committed, the barnacle is stuck for life. Literally. No more moving. If they don't like their neighbors, too bad. If someone moves their rock and they don't get sea water anymore, too bad.

That is permanence.

Sometimes I get so committed to an answer or thought that I become like a barnacle.

I think "I'm stuck here, I've got no options, I wish this situation were different..." I can't see a solution because I'm so stuck in the yuck of what I don't like.  

What helps is to remember I'm no barnacle!

Recognizing I've always got choices is so empowering: I can stay or leave, react with anger or love, teach my kids gently or shout... Although I can't control situations, I can control my reaction. And I love that I'm not stuck being a barnacle.

Do you ever feel stuck like a barnacle?

I get it. And I'd love to explore ways to unstick you. You've got options. Let's explore them!