Stop for the Ducks: A Lesson in Fowl Priorities

Life moves fast. Too fast sometimes. And if there’s one thing I’ve learned, it’s that even a speeding workday can be stopped in its tracks—by ducks.

Last week, I had to run an errand in the middle of the day. Highly unusual for me. I’m have a self-imposed chain to my desk like it’s some kind of productivity shrine. But duty called, and so did the outside world.

After wrapping up my errand (a task of monumental personal importance, which definitely wasn’t just picking up a prescription or buying coffee beans), I found myself rushing back home to log on to an “all-hands” meeting.

As I zipped down the street, laser-focused on my own priorities, I spotted them. A line of ducks, waddling purposefully toward the other side of a busy road. Their goal? The stream that was calling them with all the allure of a five-star resort.

My first thought? “Ugh, I don’t have time for this—I’ve got a meeting!” My second thought? “Wait… am I about to lose my humanity over ducks?”

So, I did it. I stopped. Not just my car—I stopped everything. The rush, the stress, the ridiculous notion that my calendar was more important than these little waddling miracles.

I became the self-appointed traffic czar of Duck Crossing. I stopped cars coming toward them. Then I stopped cars sneaking around my car. Then I stopped cars that probably didn’t even need to stop, just for good measure.

As the ducks crossed, my anxiety eased. I smiled. This wasn’t just a moment—it was the moment. No meeting, no deadline, no email labeled “URGENT!!!” was more pressing than helping these tiny, feathered travelers reach their destination.

When I finally made it home and logged into my meeting, albeit a few minutes late, I felt lighter. Happier. Like I’d been part of something bigger than the relentless calls and meetings…and calls.

So here’s the moral of the story: Sometimes, you have to stop for the ducks. Whether they’re actual ducks or metaphorical ones, those moments of kindness and pause are what life is all about.

Also, pro tip: Ducks don’t know what an “all-hands” meeting is, but they definitely know how to remind you what really matters.

Remember: Be kind

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