Of life, and trials, and flying pigs(skins)

People have asked me what is the flying pig, and why the flying pig. I have collected pigs for a long time. I have loved pigs ever since I was a little girl. After my husband died the flying pig became  symbol of hope to me. I had a picture of a little pig joyfully jumping off the end of a dock into the water. The picture depicts him mid flight, showing that with enough try a pig can fly. This became my  daily mantra. If the pig could fly then so could I. It got me through some rough times and has kept me going when I want to give up. I started my flying pig boutique as a way to sell a few of the things I make , but also to hopefully inspire other people to become flying pigs and spread their wings. I like to crochet tiny pigs and give them to people who inspire me in some way. I also sell them along with a certificate of award, and my version of the flying pigs story.
      Last night I had the privilege of watching my nephews senior night at the football game, back at my old school. I love going to the West Side games and even more when they win. But it got me thinking how life resembles a football game and we are the players. Although they beat the other team by a good long ways, there was still struggles going on. Sometimes it was one player against another, and sometimes it was a dog pile, but they just kept getting up. So it is in life, sometimes I have one small trial and sometimes they dog pile me. At this point I can get up or lay there. If I choose to just lay there it's game over for me. My nephew was playing with an injury from a previous game and although he wasn't on the field as much as usual, every time he went in he did so with enthusiasm and spirit. He never held back and he gave it his best. I was so proud to be part of his cheering section. I wondered to myself when I am hurt do I jump right back up and do my best or do I sit on the bench and nurse my injured self. Do I wallow in self-pity or do I push through the pain so that I can play in that game. Do I hold back a part of me so I won't get hurt or do I give up and walk back to the dressing room with my head hanging low, or do I run out on that field like I own the place and say..bring it on!!! I am ready for what ever you throw at me!! 
      The seniors on that team have been part of three in a row years of district sweeps. They have been injured , beat up, and knocked down a lot, but they have also felt the pride of walking off the field as winners, head held high and shoulders straight.      The very first game they played this year they lost. Their team lost a lot of graduating seniors last year, and people were not expecting them to do big things, they could have given up but they didn't they went on to win 7 games straight.
   And so it is in life, if we give up, stay down or let our own self-pity get us down we will never know the things we can accomplish. So don't be afraid to to grab the bull by it's horns wrestle it down and kick it's bully butt.
  Stay strong my piggy friends, spread those wings and fly no matter how tiny they may be. It's only through exercising them that they will grow.