Know Your Dragons

Dear James, Daniel and Emily,

Here is part 2 of the 10 things I want you to know.

When James was born your great-uncle Jim sent me the following poem. It is an excellent poem and it meant a lot to me when I got it. And when I read it out loud to James I still occasionally get a little choked up. Here is the poem:

The time has now come to explain to you, James,

Why you were given that name, of all names,

Your parents, who named you, did not really know

Why you had to be "James", and what makes it so.

But each one of us has a secret you see,

Which determines what kind of person he'll be,

And, if you're a James, well, deep down inside

Is a boogery place where your dragon does hide.

Every James has a dragon, indeed, it is true,

And because you're a James you will find-so do you.

Do not believe anyone, not in the least

Who tells you a dragon's a mythical beast,

For, as sure as you're James, I'm sure you will find

The magnificent dragon who lives in your mind,

In a place where you think and wish and you feel,

Your personal dragon there. And he's real.

Dragons can be powerful, fearless and bold

When they are constrained to do what they're told.

But dragons untamed, and this is most sad,

Can think and do things that are terribly bad.

For a James to be happy, successful, and bright,

His dragon must learn what's wrong and what's right.

Thus, what kind of dragon your dragon will be,

Only you can determine, it's not up to me

Or to anyone else. You're the one who must train

That remarkable dragon, which can be a pain

When you tighten the reins to bring under control

A hot-headed dragon when he's on a roll.

But, when you control him, there's nothing that you

And your Jamsian dragon, together, can't do!

So-early in life you need to be brave

And openly face the beast in the cave.

He's your dragon, your friend on life's glorious quest.

If you tame him, you'll both be the best of the best.

Now while the poem is about James and his dragon, and makes sense coming from one James Ruch to another, I like to think the main message is not just for a James. I like to think the central theme applies to all children in one way or another. We all have a part of us that generates both our energy, desire and creativity, but also our anger, our temper and willfullness. And part of growing up is learning to face that Dragon. To Daniel it might be an Eagle, or to Emily it might be a Lion. This is like a New Age interpretation of the idea of Totem's. This animal or spirit guides us, helps determine what kind of person we are, and how we handle different situations.

Whatever it is, the important thing is that part of growing up is learning to face that part of yourself. Learn to harness the source of your creative energies. And also learn to keep control of that part of yourself that also wants to roar and rampage and wreak havoc, often at the wort times.

From personal experience it can be easy to harness your Dragon, but the hard part is knowing when to give him the reins. As a child I became quite good at repressing my anger and tempter, but sometimes at the cost of also repressing desires and creativity in other areas. And it took a lot of work to restore that balance. So the advice in the poem is very good and you should all take it to heart: Know your Dragon (or Eagle or Lion or Wolf), learn to control Him (or her), and your life can be a joy.