Life lessons from a chicken coop

My mother and I were having one of our rare girl talks when I blurted out that I do not especially like children.

She was shocked, to say the least, and wanted to know how my two sons came about and do I really care about them?

I laughed it off and I said that yes, of course I do love my two boys, who were both born in the month of January.

The thing is, I just do not like big families, I went on to tell her. I prefer small and neat families, because I know that children require a lot of work, and I would rather spare and channel some of those resources into nurturing myself.

I can bet a huge sum of money that she is still thinking about our December conversation.

I like the fact that I do not have to explain myself to friends, family and acquaintances about my choices, especially those that I feel strongly about.

That is why I love being a grown up. I can plan my life to the minute detail, of course leaving the rest that I cannot control to the deity above.

When it comes to making decisions, this is the one time when I stop wanting being a child again to live that carefree life. Because decisions have shaped me; and will continue to shape me for as long as I live.

Talking of decisions, my mind wanders to my tiny chicken coop. For months I have enjoyed tasty and nutritious eggs from my chicken.

A week ago, I noticed they were brooding, sitting on the eggs they had laid, and were hostile to those who tried to pick the eggs.

And so I made a decision to not eat the eggs but to let them hatch. I am counting the days, ensuring the chickens are well-fed and housed.

I am looking forward to having another batch of chicken.

Then the cycle will start all over again—nurturing them from scratch, vaccinating them and keeping them warm.

After 21 days, the eggs should crack open and day-old chicks will be exposed to a new world, a new environment. That will be a nirvana moment for me.

Even as I think about my chicken, I wish I could transport the same zeal to other aspects of my life. Purpose to do and act.

Because there is no better time to incubate your plans for the year but now. The year is still young, the mind, body and spirit still energised from the December holiday break.

Today is a good day to get those chickens (ideas, plans), nurture them and wait till they start laying eggs (being productive).

Hopefully, at the end of the year, you can have even more chicken (projects, strategies) after you have nurtured your chicken and eggs all year long. Have a successful year ahead.