Houdini lives in my house. More precisely, it might be an entire tribe of Houdinis. This creature (these creatures) has shown more brain and brawn than I have given them credit for in the past. And they have helped me cultivate persistence, a trait I have focused on developing. This isn’t the application I intended it to be applied to. Such is life.

Houdini is a mouse. Aptly named, by me of course, for its remarkable ability to elude capture in most types of live mousetraps. I had a tried and true brand I’d used for years. Last time it didn’t work, Houdini escaped by pushing out the cap in the back, and then took the cap with it so it couldn’t be used again. I resorted to another type of trap I had on hand. I know it would not be possible to escape this contraption. Unfortunately, so have all the mice in the history of my house. It looks like Alcatraz, without the good views. No mouse has ever entered it. Four years old, I finally tossed it out last week.

I found a new type of trap at the hardware store. Cute as a mouse, so to speak. The mice entered and left the trap several times leaving it shut to look like it had a captive. Alas, the mouse gets the cheese, but I didn’t get the mouse.

Finally, I’m back to the original trap. I’ve been feeding my mouse (mice) good cheese; in chunks that get them to the place the trap usually securely captures them. I’ve been able to relocate six back to nature, with only a few obvious escapes. I know I may be eluding myself, that I may be recycling the same family and feeding them well along the way. But today I feel good about following my values of live and let live, and I’m learning about persistence from an unlikely source. With the approach to the Houdini’s seemingly under control, I’ll work on persistence in the intended arena….back to my writing. Like Houdini, I've consistently eluded putting words on paper. Now, it's time to capture them.

A pause is time well spent. A breath brings you into the moment, a few more to step back and reflect on what has been and where you’re going. We’d like to think the path is well defined. When you look back at the past, it’s a time to acknowledge where you’ve been, what you’ve learned and appreciate what will never be again. As you look forward, no matter how well chartered, you know there will be surprises and unknowns. Still, you prepare for where you’d like to go and step into the actions that will move you forward, on a path that will only be traveled once by the unique you that you are.

As you pause, I suggest the following; look behind with an eye for what you did well, and for what you learned. Look forward with eyes wide open, and a sillliness (I meant willingness, but think I’ll leave it as is) to embrace whatever comes along. Find the smile on your face as you look at right where you are. Take a minute to connect with the inner joy your life is bringing you. Ah, the presents of presence! Now you’re in a good position to take the next step, (maybe a slightly different one than you would have otherwise) consciously appreciating todays gifts, with a eye to the future.