They say it is pressure that turns coal into diamonds. Interesting thought that sustained pressure + time = one of the strongest and most beautiful objects found today. When pressure meets coal you don't always get diamonds; it is the duration, quality, and time of the pressure that makes the equation work.
I've been thinking a lot about pressure lately. First, what is my response to pressure? Me, well, I'm a chocolate brownie kind of pressure girl. If not brownie, then chocolate birthday cake...cause a real bar of chocolate just doesn't cut it. I've developed, or allowed to be developed, a really crazy response to pressure; one that I am now undoing. Lambing 2013 seems to be a good time to practice new responses to pressure......all in an effort to become a diamond.
I look at my dogs and each has a unique way of responding to pressure. Snook would quit when she perceived too much pressure in a situation. Being my first dog, I did not understand enough to see this until she moved to front seat truck girl. No pressure in that job title. Bella used to get tight and grip. It took a while and the belief from a mentor for me to see that Bella was not trying to be naughty......and I was helped in finding a way to work her through to the other side. Nell would cringe and tune me out to go ahead and do her own thing. Thank goodness for mentors with courage to point out what I was not seeing.
As I am becoming aware of pressure, I am really looking at my dogs to see what their response to those perceived pressures are. Do I reduce the pressure and work back up to it slowly? Can I see the subtle information they give right at the point where they feel the pressure starting to become too much? Can I find a way to help them develop a diamond producing response mechanism?
I do believe that rather than stay a piece of coal, I'll take on the pressure of becoming a diamond.....I'm at gestation day 149......still waiting while the pressure builds.......and I still have Kelly Clarkson stuck in my head...."What doesn't kill you makes you stronger......"
Seize the Day!
Fifteen Ways Marlboro Man and I Are Different
6 hours ago
Not to mention, the effect of pressure on stock in this equation. I was thinking about this tonight when I was putting my ducks up without the help of my dog. I was focusing on watching them and observing how they responded to my pressure. What occurred to me was that you have to know when to apply pressure and when to back off. You really have to let the ducks think that going where you want them to go was their idea. I also think about the times my dog has blown into sheep have usually been because I was putting too much pressure on my dog. Trying to figure pressure out is definitely a delicate dance
ReplyDeleteAnd an overthinkers paradise...there is more to pressure that just physical pressure from me. As you mention, the sheep (dog on sheep and sheep on dog) and the fences, but also just the perceived pressure of experience in situations. I've done that to my open dogs with real work for the Sheep Boss. I'm starting a new young dog and I put her in a bigger field with my flock of sheep and blew her mind. She was not ready for that jump and responded to the pressure of being pushed too far too fast. It was interesting to see....glad to be looking for changes to know where to go from here.
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