| etaphor of the rat race as a way to talk about | | | | The metaphors we use not only reflect the way |
| the nature of contemporary life is instructive. I | | | | we live, but create the way we live. If we call life |
| wonder about its origin. And just what is a rat | | | | a rate race, it will tend to become one. |
| race? I picture a maze in some scientific | | | | So let's change the metaphors. Here are a few |
| laboratory with a dozen rodents scrambling in all | | | | suggestions: |
| directions, trying with great frustration to find | | | | Life is a cat prowl. I envision slow and care steps, |
| their way to freedom. Is that a rat race? Did | | | | a calm awareness of what is going on in my |
| anyone tell the rats they were in a race? Is there | | | | neighborhood, and a pace that suits my needs. |
| really a winner in a rat race? | | | | Life is a dog walk. I move now with lively interest, |
| And that we should choose this metaphor as a | | | | with stopping and goings, encounters with other |
| way to talk about the way we live our lives | | | | dogs, trees, and people, always ready to respond |
| is......what? Alarming? "Well, we have got to get | | | | to a friendly petting. |
| going and join the rat race." We do? Well, that is | | | | Life is a fox trot. Here is a bouncy-stepped way |
| what we have always been told and tell | | | | to dance through life. Find a partner! You can |
| everybody else. That is how we were educated | | | | always sit the next one out. |
| in school to understand that life is a rat race. We | | | | Life is a monkey march. Life is a pony canter. Life |
| did not have a choice to choose what we want | | | | is a whale breach. Life is a swallow soar. Life is a |
| to hear since we were born. | | | | pig parade. Life is an elephant lope. |