The Power of Sharing: Lessons from a Bunny Encounter

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“We form friendships with unrelated people. It’s universal in human groups. We cooperate with each other, altruistically. We’re kind to strangers — again, to unrelated individuals. This is different than many other types of cooperation, which are also seen in other animal species, but often that cooperation is between genetically related individuals. We do it with genetically unrelated individuals. We teach each other things. People take this for granted, but it’s actually unbelievable” – Nicholas Christakis

I find it fascinating when my kids demonstrate something that we do all the time as grown-ups. In this case, discern who to share with.

My six-year-old son, Mr. D, and I were walking on our favorite beach on Whidbey Island this weekend when we saw a bunny in trouble. It was trying to climb the bank back to the grassy top about 100 feet above. It kept on getting about two-thirds the way up. But then the incline was too vertical so the bunny fell back down.

Mr. D and I were watching it. He said the thing that was running through my head. “Take a rest. Calm down. Try another approach.”

But its frantic efforts made it lose ground and attract our dog, Cooper’s attention. The bunny started running along the bank parallel to the beach about 10 feet up. Cooper started chasing it. Because he wasn’t on the leash, all I could do was call him (good luck with that) and run after him to try to leash him.

The bunny finally exhausted itself and fell to beach level. Cooper caught up and nosed it but I don’t think did any more damage than what happened when it fell. When Mr. D and I got there, it was breathing and moving its front paws, but I’m not sure its back paws worked any more. We put Cooper on leash and left the bunny to rest but we weren’t feeling hopeful about its survival. It was a tender moment.

Later that afternoon, Mr. D quietly said to me, “I told Miss O about the bunny. I didn’t tell Eric though. He’s too funny for that.”

It was such a great example of what we all do when we share something. We evaluate who the audience is, whether they can be trusted with the information, and if it’s the appropriate time. It’s just like sharing a file in the office. Are we putting it in the correct location with the right permissions?

Sometimes we get it right, sometimes we get it wrong but we keep trying. Because to share is human, and as Yale sociologist Nicolas Christakis says, it’s unbelievable!

There are times I get rusty and the words for any experience that is hard or tender come out slowly. I’ve found that it’s easier to keep it flowing than let myself get encased in my armor. Thank goodness for kids that show me how. And for this beautiful blogging community who receives so beautifully!

Happy Thanksgiving, Canada!

(featured photo from Pexels)

You can find me on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/wynneleon/ and Instagram @wynneleon

I host the How to Share podcast, a podcast about collaboration – sharing leads to success.

I also co-host the Sharing the Heart of the Matter podcast, an author, creator and storytelling podcast with the amazing Vicki Atkinson.

62 thoughts on “The Power of Sharing: Lessons from a Bunny Encounter”

  3. yes we need to keep trying. so, please next time do not let your dog running on the beach unleashed. this poor bunny might still be alive today if he hadn’t been so scared by your dog that he ran in panic and died in the fall or from exhaustion.

    Liked by 1 person

      1. maybe it just knew the beach wasn’t safe for a number of reasons. Kind of makes me wonder why he was there to begin with. Wonder if he slide down by mistake and was trying to get back up to be safe. Poor thing. he must have been so very scared.

        have nice day.

        Liked by 1 person

  4. What a great take on sharing and understanding our audience! I hope the little bunny recovered and made it home with his own story to share.

    Liked by 1 person

  5. Great story, Wynne. The late Jane Goodall come to mind. As you say, to share is human. It is also characteristic of animals and trees. We are all in this together, this thing called life.

    Liked by 3 people

  6. Choosing our audience, who to share what with is very important and I applaud the young man for his insight!

    Liked by 1 person

  8. That’s so interesting that Mr. D chose not to share a “serious story” with someone who is known for a great sense of humor, like that wasn’t a good fit or timing for Eric. That is some mature discerning he performed. And I’m really sad about the bunny. I choose hope that somehow he was able to move on.

    Liked by 1 person

    1. I hope that about the bunny too, Melanie and wonder how it fell down the bank in the first place.

      Love the way you recap Mr. D’s judgment – not sharing a serious story with someone known to be funny. I think you nailed it! Thanks, my friend!

      Liked by 1 person

  11. Wynne, this made me think about those times when I was young and interacting with pets and wildlife. I think for children there are a lot of teaching moments when they “play in the sandbox” of all these creatures we share the planet with. Living, loving, and loss are all emotions kids get to experience through those encounters.

    Liked by 2 people

  12. I’m fascinated, Wynne. Not knowing the people or the complete situation it’s easy to overlay your story with our own opinions/prejudices and jump to all sorts of conclusions. Because Mr D chose not share his experience with Eric we could read into that that Eric’s less sensitive to a young boy’s needs. I take your main point, that’s really worth pondering. We choose who we share with, depending on us, the news we’re sharing, and our relationships with those available at the time… and the fact that Mr D. used this particular skill well, and was able to reflect on it, is to his credit… and yours that you picked it out!

    Liked by 1 person

  13. I can’t put my finger on it, but Mr. D’s observations about the world — animals, nature, people, and all of the nuances and subtleties. Are we 100% sure he’s six? 🥰❤️🥰

    Liked by 2 people

    1. Nuances and subtleties – that’s the perfect way to put it, dear Vicki. As someone who was present at his birth, I can verify he really is 6. 🙂 But maybe he’s an old soul, too?? ❤

      Liked by 1 person

      1. LOL…good to know you have the credentials to verify!
        I almost wrote “old soul” but there’s so much more to him…both he and Miss O. Truly magnificent, they are. Good job, mama! 🥰💝🥰

        Liked by 1 person

  20. Such an interesting post, Wynne. I always thought about my audience when I was teaching. You can’t joke around with second graders the same way you would with sixth graders.

    Cooper and the bunny reminded me of an experience that just happened. I was visiting a friend who recently got four chickens. The problem is that he is a dog lover and always owns two to three dogs. One of his dogs got into the fenced area where his chicken coop was. There was a mass of squawking and feathers. A chicken came tearing out with the dog hot on his heels. All of a sudden, I became Pete Springer, chicken rescuer. (I think I may have found my Halloween costume if I can find a cape.) It was a miracle the fowl didn’t get killed. It somehow managed to get into his pond and hopped onto a large stone that the dog couldn’t reach. I took off my shoes and pants and waded into the pond, only to have the chicken take off again. I was playing defense trying to keep myself between the dog and the chicken. My buddy was calling his dog off to no avail. I finally reached into a bush and snagged the frightened chicken, who screamed bloody murder. I’m sure it was traumatized for life. 😊

    Liked by 1 person

    1. Holy smokes, Pete – that is one crazy adventure! Yep, Pete Springer, chicken rescuer will be perfect for Halloween. You probably still have some feathers stuck to you. What a story!

      Love that you considered your audience as a teacher. Of course you did – because you are amazing!

      Liked by 1 person

  23. I love this story, aside from the bunnies’ struggle. I’m most impressed with the advice D would give – calm down, take a rest, try another approach. More impressive thought than what I would expect from many adults!

    Liked by 1 person

  24. Mr D is becoming very wise. I can’t tell you how many times my kids or their friends blurted things out that would have been better left unsaid in the moment. Yep, he is a sensitive soul.

    Liked by 1 person

  25. Sounds like Mr. D has been gifted with interpersonal intelligence. He’s able to understand and interact effectively with others. That gift seems to be in short supply these days, at least in some locales!

    Liked by 1 person

  26. Oh I’m so sorry to hear about the bunny. I hope it survived!

    Our kids teach us so much about life and how to navigate social situations and hard moments. I learned as well from Mr D’s gracious example here.

    Hope you all had a nice long weekend as well! I’m sick of turkey already. 😂

    Liked by 1 person

    1. It was a strange encounter. I wonder how the bunny came to be on the beach in the first place!

      You’re right – our kids teach us so much!

      I’m sure you are making creative uses of your turkey leftovers! Hope you had a nice Thanksgiving!

      Like

  27. I really hope the bunny survived, Wynne, and leave it to the kids to teach us who to share with. These lines are perfect: “Sometimes we get it right, sometimes we get it wrong but we keep trying. Because to share is human, and as Yale sociologist Nicolas Christakis says, it’s unbelievable!” ❤️

    Liked by 1 person

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