Gray Rock, a parable

[Starboard Song]

I was looking at my earliest posts on Out of the FOG, and came across this bizarre little thing I typed up years ago, describing grey rock as a courageous tactic.

This, Little Lizard, is the way of the strong.

There is a great and strong viper that hides like a rock. He has fangs and venom, but does not use them. He keeps his mouth closed, and his tailed curled in.

It takes great strength to hide like a rock, for what is harder than a rock? It takes great peace to be a rock, for what is more still and silent than a rock?

But the great and strong viper doesn't get hurt. There are times when hiding as  a rock hides, in plain sight, does not work. The viper knows that injury and death is not peace. It is then that the great and strong viper flashes his tail, and in a silent cloud of sand he vanishes and does not return.

[Adria]

Wow! I love that Starboard Song,

I used to be spoken to so disrespectfully by my inlaws, snarky little jabs continuosly.  I never said a word because, to me, they weren't worth my energy.  And, for that they always told me I was weak.  I have fought so many battles in my life because of my own family, I suppose I didn't have it in me to fight with dh's family, so I didn't.  I was never weak. Because of what I endured from my own family, I knew who I was inside and didn't need inlaw's validation.  I think often if I had it to do over again, maybe I should have hit back some, but I just didn't want to feel like I had to prove anything to them, good, bad or otherwise. Eventually, I did vanish and not return.

What you wrote cinched it for me.  It was what I needed to put an end to it in my mind.  So insightful and beautiful and true.  Thank you for reposting. Hugs, Adria