I so admire women who can keep their cool in any situation. Like a duck on a pond, they look impossibly serene while paddling like crazy underneath. I have friends who are ducks, and a mother who is very duck like. I never cease to be amazed at how calm and collected they are in any crisis. These sleek put together fowl can handle any challenge with grace.

Could you plan a party for 50 on a days notice? No problem, those ducks say. Any chance you could design and make my wedding dress on a really cheap budget, and fit it to me exactly, without my actually being in the state? Not even a hesitation. Nothing is impossible for a duck. They glide through every task without a single splash above the water, but underneath those little feet paddle like crazy. Frankly, I’m not sure if it’s endearing or annoying. Who am I kidding it’s amazing!

I, on the other hand, am a flamingo. It’s hard to keep your cool when you’re a flamingo. First of all, you’re big and loud, and you’ve got this bright pink color that is sort of strange and attracts attention and your knees even bend the wrong way. Not a compact duck model, no sir. You’re a long legged, crazy necked, big beaked, weirdo.

It’s impossible to look like you have it together as a flamingo. You wear you crisis right out there for everyone to see, no keeping it serenely contained under the water like a duck. You just wade in with your big feet, looking like a mistake of genetics and proof that God has a sense of humor.

While I do struggle with duck envy, there is a lot to love about a flamingo. Did you know that they’re strong swimmers and avid flyers, but generally they just wade around? So we flamingos can do duck-like things and when we do, boy, are we fantastic. We just don’t look as graceful at the task.

Flamingos are also monogamous birds, laying only one egg a year. If something happens to that egg, they rarely lay another. So we flamingos are loyal and steady. Another great thing about flamingos, they can fly up to thirty-five miles an hour in a flock. So while we’re a little clumsy, we flamingos can really get in there and get things moving.

Now I love the ducks in my life and would love to be one. It’s just not in the cards for this flamingo. But, flamingos have their charms. After all, when was the last time you saw someone with a plastic duck next to their house?

So next time your ankle deep in crisis, and your flamingo feathers are flying for everyone to see. Just enjoy the moment and remember that although ducks can keep it together, flamingos make the ride a lot more fun.