I learned a really important lesson the other day. It has to do with seeing a situation and then jumping to a conclusion.

Victor chilling on his leaf

I guarantee that you have been the victim of someone jumping to a conclusion about you. People take things that attract their attention, and they make instant conclusions. Sometimes these conclusions are damaging and have impacts that reach far beyond what even social media can reach. They reach into our hearts and they change us. They touch our thoughts and our emotions.

Victor… not moving on his leaf

I wake up a lot all night. I walk out and suppose I might need the bathroom, so I do that. Then I guess I might need a drink, so I have a drink of milk. I love milk.

Often I check on Victor, my handsome beta fish. The other night he was laying on his leaf. I put my finger up to say hello. He always comes to say hi to me. This time, he didn’t move. I panicked.

Victor was dead.

It was about 4 a.m. I was in a panic. The only thing I could think of to do was to call my daughter. She has fish of her own and works at a Pet Smart. She’d know what to do.

I just knew he was dead.

He’s one of my emotional support animals (No laughing!). We talk every day. Feeding him is part of my regular routine. He’s amazing. He comes to me when he sees me.

I was crushed.

Victor… Sleeping?

Then I had a thought. Google beta fish… do they sleep?

OMG! Fish sleep! Can you even believe it!?? Fish sleep. I don’t sleep, but Victor does. I had spent 20 minutes blowing bubbles down a straw trying to make him move. He just wouldn’t move! Asleep? Who the heck knew fish sleep? And how did he keep sleeping through all those bubbles?

You know… This is the sort of damage that happens when conclusions are jumped to. What has it done to your heart? To your head?

Victor a few minutes ago

Victor sleeps every night. I just hadn’t noticed him actually doing it on his hammock leaf before.

Conclusion jumped to.

Lesson learned.