Coming Out of the Proverbial Shell/It Ain't Easy (On Your Own)

A shell is a great home. A comforting place to be. Where one can run around in their tighty whities free from the outside rantings and ravings and paparazzi. But, sometimes it can be a little too comfy – and we need to break out, or be forced out (preferably with clothes on).

Our oldest child knows what he likes – and he likes his shell. His insulated world with day to day sameness and configuration and common routine. Initially, he doesn’t like to come out of that shell, to step from familiar to unfamiliar (what is the root of familiar, family? household? something like that).

BUT, when he does come out and tries something new, it is amazing at how much he likes it and seems freed from the chains that bind. His horizon opens up, he makes new friends, advances two steps and then… perhaps hits a small snag and back in his cave he goes, eating his cheese pizza.

Seems to me this is what causes him to learn in fits and starts. He picks something up and goes with it, but then when he gets stuck, he rams his head over and over against the wall, though barely making a dent or a scratch. Perhaps his pistonlike neurons are firing at different intervals than the average. But, he knows what he likes - and seems grounded in that knowledge, which his peers seem to respect.

The recent controversy regarding Princess Kate and her risqué photos comes to mind. Many celebrities say that when you are a celebrity – to whatever extent, you need to mind every step and every move. Perhaps in your own house or shell you can bare all, but be mindful of who is looking at any point outside those walls, beyond the shell, with their greedy long range zooms.

Crabs, snails and turtles carry their shells around with them – and they have lasted millions of years. The mobile shells, though perhaps a hindrance to some extent, (say 15% of the time), seem to work for them overall (the tortoise did beat the hare).

Sometimes we have to dare. We have to step into the dark, leaving the comforts of home, leaving the comforts of government, leaving the familiar - maybe taking that last breath and passing into peace.

Coming out of that shell and making the most of what comes our way.

And it ain’t easy, on your own.

Sometimes you win sometimes you lose.

But that’s what puts hair on your chest.

And experience is what you get when you don’t get what you want.

(and tonight, the rest of us in this familia, want more than just cheese pizza)

PS.
I like turtles too.