Plodders and Dazzlers

There are dazzlers and there are plodders. Dazzlers live in an Instagram world. Plodders are camera inept. Dazzlers zip around in athleisure. Plodders do not zip around anything and their attire is comfortably worn and decidedly untrendy. Dazzlers make lofty resolutions for each new year. Plodders do like they always do each year. They plod.

Not surprisingly, I am a plodder. My early morning walk on January 1 was completely quiet with nary a soul in sight. During the remaining days of January I will most likely be joined by dazzlers whiffing by me as they run toward their new year's fitness goals, complete with coordinated running gear and stocking caps topped with cute little puff balls. My blue, slightly stained coat is easy for the dazzlers to see so they can safely whip around me. I usually wave at their backs and wish them well.

Dazzlers are busy planning exciting trips for the new year. Disneyland cruise? Here they come. Turks and Caicos beaches? For sure. Scotland distilleries' tour? Yup, it'll look great on Instagram. Road trip to twelve National Parks? Bragging rights, for sure. Birding trip to the Galapagos Islands? Why not?

Plodders use their own algorithms for travel. It depends on available time plus budget, plus energy level, plus comfort level, plus relaxation opportunities, minus frenetic pacing. A plodder is content with a jaunt to the local pharmacy to peruse the discounted stuff in search of a cheap treasure. No sandy beaches or penguins at the pharmacy but the price is right.

Dazzlers take on new hobbies like scuba diving or French cooking. Their Facebook page is splashed with underwater scenes and deep sea fishing boats, extra points for breaching whales. Their Instagram photos highlight plates of unctuous beef bourguignon with perfectly proofed and baked baguettes. Beaming guests will top off the meal with a cheery toast.

Plodders tend to choose low-budget hobbies. They make sauerkraut and perfect the art of "beige plates" such as mashed potatoes, gravy, meatloaf and canned green beans. They go birding in their neighborhood parks and find great joy in watching a Northern Shrike whack its food into submission, no Imax tickets necessary for that show.

Make no mistake, there is a place for dazzlers and plodders. all God's creatures. I suspect we all have a bit of both within us. The trick is to keep the comparison-o-meter in check. A good plod is every bit as good as a fancy dazzle. End of story.

Happy New Year to all of you! Dazzle your way to kindness for others and plod your way to serenity for yourself.