We were standing on a bridge marveling at a small freshwater lake covered entirely in water lilies when we noticed a single turtle resting on one of the waxy-coated leaves.
We have seen turtles sunning themselves on tree limbs that had fallen into the water or along a shoreline, but never on a lily pad (for email subscribers you’ll find a photo at on-emotions.com).
Then it occurred to us, sometimes emotionally we’re the turtle and sometimes we’re the water lily pad. Sometimes we need another person to hold us up and give us a chance to rest and other times we are the lily pad.
After a moment the turtle slid back in the water. Because that is also the point. The purpose of the lily pad isn’t just to hold up a tired turtle. Its purpose is to be a part of a plant that produces beautiful flowers.
On Emotions 