NOTE: I wrote this column for my local small town newspaper during Thanksgiving week. Sadly, they had decided to cancel the column at that time so this was never published in the newspaper. I am sharing it here as a seed to the beginning of a new blog. May this be the first of many I have the opportunity to share.
Turkey Assumptions
Did you know that turkeys have 5,000-6,000 feathers? I would not have wanted to be the person whose job was to count them. Wild turkeys can run 18 miles an hour on foot and reach speeds of 50 miles an hour in flight. A wild turkey’s head will change colors based on its emotion. And, no, the gossip isn’t true. If a turkey looks up when it’s raining, it will not drown. My source for these facts comes from reading material on the table in a cafe, but I did fact check with the internet. So, take that for what it’s worth.
Growing up, I have always enjoyed Thanksgiving. Watching the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day parade is a tradition. That big turkey floating down the street is how I think of turkeys. I remember making turkey art by drawing around my hand and creating colorful feathers in the fingers and a turkey head on the thumb. Turkeys made out of vanilla wafers, Rolos, and candy corn is another favorite tradition. My perceptions of turkeys are much more quaint and idealistic.
I find it interesting how much stock people put into perceptions and assumptions. Something can be completely false but be treated as absolutely true, just based on perceptions. Assumptions are made everyday based on the way one sees the world, but may not have any basis in reality. In the Four Agreements by Miguel Ruiz, it is encouraged that people don’t make assumptions. Instead, it is suggested that questions be asked to clarify and to understand reality.
I am the queen of making assumptions based on stories I tell myself in my head. This is a fun trait on Thanksgiving morning when I am watching Tom the Turkey float past Macy’s. However, it has not served me well in many other settings. My perceptions and assumptions have caused drama, pain and misunderstanding. So, I’m learning my lesson from the turkeys this holiday season. There is more than meets the eye. My perceptions and assumptions don’t tell the whole story, so I’ll care enough to ask questions about what’s really true.
Good luck with this. Sorry to hear about the Leader ending your column. I don’t charge for mine which is why they haven’t canceled me yet. I just like to write and my guess is so do you so keep at it! You are a good writer.
Peyton