The crawfish and the boy

The crawfish and the boy

In a small town deep in South Louisiana you will find a way of life that dates back to the early 1900s. It is in this small town that our story begins.  A boy of no more than three was walking in the ditch with a net catching everything he could when he caught a blue crawfish.

The boy studied the crawfish, and to his surprise the crawfish could talk.  You see, Louisiana is full of stories – from Voodoo to the Huey P. Long and everything in between.  

The crawfish pleaded his case to the boy and offered him a gift in exchange for his release, “I will tell you your future if you let me live.” The boy agreed, and the crawfish launched into his tale.

This was no ordinary crawfish. He was a fortune teller trained by Marie Levo herself.  The boy sat quietly, and the crawfish began to talk. 

“Listen here, boy; you will leave this land of yours and travel to far off places. You will see the world.  Your heart will always be in this magical place, though. You will go through seasons; you will change your language; you will change your dreams. But the little curious boy who loved nature is who you are. 

“This land and heritage of yours will be a burden for you, and for many years you will turn your back on it. It will weigh on you – the simplicity of this place – you will deny it for many years. Then one day, you will remember.

“Your heritage is your story, and I, the crawfish, will serve as a reminder for you of why it is important to tell your story. You will tell your story one day. When you do, remember me, remember all of the people that make up this place, and remember your heritage.” 

What did the little boy learn?

Culture - where you were raised will have its impact on you. It will be what shapes you, but don’t let it define you.  

Adversity is a gift. Do not let your past or where you were born take from the present. Let it enhance you.

Curiosity - never stop exploring. Take your shoes off. Feel the grass under your feet, and reconnect with the inner child.  Explore and play. Try your best to stay curious, and you will never know everything.

Imagination - play with ideas. Give yourself the freedom to live the life you want, even if only in a dream.  When you play, you give your subconscious the fuel it needs to make dreams come true. 

Be kind - there are situations where you will have to stand up for yourself. You may even have to defend yourself. But for the most part, be kind to yourself, be kind to others, and be kind to nature.  

Share - there is always more than enough. When you hold out your hands, create a cup to catch the blessings. Don’t clench your fists to hold onto everything.