Warrigal
SF VIP
- Location
- Sydney, Australia
It's easy to love cute furry mammals and butterflies but what about beetles, spiders and worms?
These creatures have been on my mind today.
I went to open the vertical blinds in the loungeroom this morning and noticed a large huntsman spider spread out across one of the drops. I took care when opening the blinds so as to avoid startling him. He's still there undisturbed by my action.
Then I went outside to the laundry and loaded the washing machine. I also immersed a couple of bath mats in a plastic dish full of hot water and some pretty potent detergent. I then noticed a smallish daddy long legs descending on a single strand of web, heading straight for the witch's brew below. Gently I shifted him sideways away from the tub.
Later, when I was busy sweeping up twigs and leaves in the back yard, I remembered something that happened when I was 8 or 9 years old. I was playing in the school playground and there were quite a few large Christmas beetles on the asphalt. Deliberately I stomped on one of them. It made a crunching sound and was dead. Immediately I felt deep remorse for what I had done. It seemed so unnecessary.
From that day on I cannot remember ever doing damage to any tiny creatures without good reason. As a child I would go out of my way to rescue earthworms that had emerged from their burrows after heavy rain by moving them to drier ground so that they would not drown. I would pick up baby birds that had fallen from the nest and take them home for my mother to look after. Mum always did her best.
Seventy years ago I learned a lesson about kindness to tiny creatures and it is still with me.
Does anyone else remember lessons learned as a child that have shaped your behaviour to this day?
These creatures have been on my mind today.
I went to open the vertical blinds in the loungeroom this morning and noticed a large huntsman spider spread out across one of the drops. I took care when opening the blinds so as to avoid startling him. He's still there undisturbed by my action.
Then I went outside to the laundry and loaded the washing machine. I also immersed a couple of bath mats in a plastic dish full of hot water and some pretty potent detergent. I then noticed a smallish daddy long legs descending on a single strand of web, heading straight for the witch's brew below. Gently I shifted him sideways away from the tub.
Later, when I was busy sweeping up twigs and leaves in the back yard, I remembered something that happened when I was 8 or 9 years old. I was playing in the school playground and there were quite a few large Christmas beetles on the asphalt. Deliberately I stomped on one of them. It made a crunching sound and was dead. Immediately I felt deep remorse for what I had done. It seemed so unnecessary.
From that day on I cannot remember ever doing damage to any tiny creatures without good reason. As a child I would go out of my way to rescue earthworms that had emerged from their burrows after heavy rain by moving them to drier ground so that they would not drown. I would pick up baby birds that had fallen from the nest and take them home for my mother to look after. Mum always did her best.
Seventy years ago I learned a lesson about kindness to tiny creatures and it is still with me.
Does anyone else remember lessons learned as a child that have shaped your behaviour to this day?
