C.J. Braden • 3 Minute Read
How To Protect Your Spirit From Happiness Hunters
A wildlife preserve surrounds the back of our Sanibel Island house and there isn’t a day that goes by in which some wild creature doesn’t show up to show off to us in some way. Recently, I sat in our 3rd floor cupola that overlooks the preserve, and watched the animal kingdom live their interesting little lives below. I was having a sad moment and needed to take a time out and watching animals and nature usually helps me heal.
Remember, you are special
Everyone needs a time out sometimes. I take mine usually outside in nature, but on this sunny and hot morning, I watched nature from inside my cool 10’x10’ peaceful room, one I call my relaxation room. On this particular day, I watched an Anhinga bird sitting high up in a tree. Below it was a large estuary where other birds and reptiles were swimming around. I can see a lot more now post Hurricane Ian, which is kind of nice, despite some trauma it brought to many lives (including humans and animals).
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The Anhinga, still hanging out several days later
I wondered why this one Anhinga hung out in the tree instead of joining its bird friends that swam and searched for food below. Anhingas are known to fly but also swim like a duck and dive like an otter for long periods of time to feed. This Anhinga had no interest in swimming this day, and I finally figured out why.
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Anhinga photo, taken days after the alligator event
Suddenly, the estuary water below the tree rippled with fury and an alligator popped out of the water and feasted on a large white bird, probably an egret. It quickly disappeared into the reddish-brown tannic water and I quickly realized that the Anhinga hanging out in the tree was smarter than most. I am pretty sure it saw the alligator and decided it was not “a chance taking kind of a day” and it would be better off in the tree. I knew in this moment that the Anhinga was telling me something I already knew about life, but I needed a reminder.
Alligators are very present on Sanibel
I’ve dealt with some relationships in my life that are with people that struggle (which everyone is entitled to do, as we all struggle), but some people struggle in such a powerful way, that it caused me to struggle with them. I used to call them energy vampires, but now I consider them to be “happiness hunters.” These happiness hunters have tried to steal my happiness throughout my life. It’s usually because they see something that they want (happiness) and don’t know how to find it on their own, so it’s easier for them to try to steal it from me.
Male anhinga’s have black and white wings
I am an empath that has a big caring heart, only wants to help people and wants for people I love to be happy. I love hearing from people and lend a caring ear, but sometimes they take advantage of this caring feature in me and seem to become jealous when I am happy. It seems like in these moments they do something they know will make me sad so I’ll be sad with them. They hunt, attack and devour my happiness, like an animal. Sometimes they can’t help it, as it’s a part of who they became after a series of sad events that happened in their life.
Alligators are amazing hunters
This not only happens to me in real life, but on all my social media channels too. There isn’t a week that goes by in which someone isn’t saying something hateful to me on one social platform or another. Some call them trolls, and that is for a reason. They lurk out in the darkness of the anonymous web and try to pull me into their sadness filled lair.
Alligators are great at hiding
For the people that do this to me in real life, I’ve confronted them and talked with them about my feelings. Many agreed to be better and actually did, but sometimes some do not and I refuse to keep repeating myself day after day, week after week and year after year. If you struggle with this happening to you, always remember that positive change is slow to take place. Some people are worth waiting for, but some, unfortunately, are not. I decided a while ago that I am no longer going to stay waiting around for the ones that I feel are not going to get it. The reason I do this is because of something someone once said to me.
Happiness hunters are sometimes sad because they feel different or alone
A smart person once told me to watch out for the ones that are probably not going to ever fully get it. He told me to care of myself in these moments and mentioned these “hunters” are out hunting for happy people to bring down to their level. He also added, “no matter what, at least they can’t eat you”. It was funny when he said it and it made my mood lift much quicker, as laughter tends to do this in my sad moments. This saying is true when you witness what could have happened to the tree-hanging-out Anhinga.
The birds in Southwest Florida are fascinating
It decided to do its own thing, and smartly hang out in a tree all day instead of hanging around his bird community in the water. When the happiness hunters, like the alligator (and his now bird dinner counterpart), try to eat up my happiness and try to make me sad when they are sad, I have to continue to be strong and do what is best for me.
The beautiful colors of Anhinga birds
As far as the social media trolls, I just block them. I honestly don’t have time or patience for mean, negative and hate filled people. And, I don’t need my niece, nephew or former students reading such awful things, as they watch my videos sometimes too. What the internet happiness hunters don’t know though, is that they helped my engagement score on social media a little when they left the mean comment, which is actually a good thing. Funny how their negative act actually benefits me as a creator/brand that is working to “make the world a little happier and craftier”.
Believe in yourself and your strength
If I ever go MIA for a while from any social platform or from my website, from text messages, phone calls or email, it’s a good thing. I’m protecting myself and my spirit. I’m gathering my thoughts and making sense of them. Or, I’m writing an article, like this one. I still love and appreciate phone calls and texts when I am in this mode though and respond to people within a reasonable amount of time, as I need them to know I’m still present, but need time to heal.
I’ll be hanging out in my tree for a little while if you need me. The water may look tempting, but I, like the Anhinga, can swim another day or find another place to swim. I don’t live an “eat or be eaten” kind of a lifestyle and I like it.
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C.J. (Carolyn) Braden is a regular contributor and editor for Carolyn’s Blooming Creations. She has been featured in numerous media publications such as InStyle Magazine, on HGTV, on Bustle.com, and more. She is the author of the books Georgia McMasters in Amethyst Lake Cemetery, How To Be Yourself: 3 Ways To Help You Being You, and the illustrator for the children’s book Bridging Connections. She is a former classroom teacher that now dedicates her life to educating others on how to live their most healthy, creative and happy life. Learn more about her visiting our About Us page.