I live in a rural place and love it. A dirt road, trees and ponds all around me, and just a few houses dotting the landscape. It’s a nature lover’s paradise.

We’ve gotten used to the wildlife that shares our space—bears that lumber past our property, foxes that dart down the road, and even the occasional bobcat making a fleeting appearance.

But my favorites? The pair of mallard ducks that visit every spring. They swim, eat, and nest on our little pond, and we look forward to their return every year.

Last week, I stepped outside early in the morning and immediately heard her—the female duck honking, circling the pond, sounding so…forlorn. Her mate was nowhere to be seen.

She was clearly calling for him, and he wasn’t answering.

Oooh, that made me mad. Where was he? Was he off galavanting with other ducks instead of checking on his partner? Had she chosen a dud for a companion? I could relate—it took me a while to find the right mate too!

But as I got closer to the pond, my frustration turned into a pang of sadness. Feathers floated on the water.

Oh no.

Had a fox gotten him? Had the red-tailed hawk that circles our yard spotted him as an easy meal? Or worse—had another male duck attacked him, trying to steal his mate? I’ve seen male ducks fight over a female, and it’s not pretty. They practically drown each other—and sometimes the female too—in a frantic battle to win.

Suddenly, I saw things differently. Instead of being a doo-less duck, maybe he was actually a dauntless duck—one who had been bravely protecting his lady.

Funny how easy it is to judge before knowing all the facts. To assume the worst instead of considering the best.

I felt a little heartbroken all day, thinking of that poor little female duck. She eventually left our pond—maybe searching for him, maybe moving on. Either way, it felt like the end of something sweet.

But then—joy of joys! My husband spotted them across the street in a vernal pond, tucked safely behind a fallen log, probably hiding from Bully Duck.

I felt like I had won the lottery!

A few days later, they reappeared on our pond, swimming like nothing had happened, like life was just…good.

And really, it was. Right in that moment, life was good.

That’s what I want to strive for. To be like my ducks. To live in the moment, no matter what it brings. Because sometimes, things really do turn out just fine.

-Peni