Dilgence, Sybiosis, and Sloth

Laura Smith Writer

Dilgence, Sybiosis, and Sloth

July 10, 2026

—

June 25,

Diligence: persistent and careful hard work

We have a nest of Chipping Sparrows in one of our birdhouses (a 4 bedroom barn which sits atop a 10 foot column) at the edge of our fruit orchard. The babies are usually hungry; I can hear their consistent complaining each time I walk by, and the chatter has only increased in volume the older they get. Both parents work diligently throughout the day to keep up with meal prep, taking turns delivering whichever tasty insect morsel they find, and dispatching Grub Hub style to their feisty children.

Likewise, there are days when the “to do” list is long and overwhelming, when it feels as if our attention is pulled in different directions, yet chipping away at one task at a time can be extremely satisfying. I personally have to gamify my tasks, adding in small rewards (Wordle, small snack, etc) and cross off each task on a post-it in order for me to avoid slipping into slothiness.

In defence of the sloth however, these creatures have evolved to have a slow metabolism (the opposite of yours truly). They live in a symbiotic relationship with algae (unlike the reflecting pool) which works as camouflage, protecting them from predators. Like the Chipping Sparrow couple, sometimes the only way to achieve our daily tasks and work goals is to engage the help of others, and because symbiosis means reciprocity, “I get by with a little help from my friends” (Beatles) includes “my friends get by with a little help from me.” How can you revel in symbiosis today?

Cards drawn for inspiration: The Hanged Man, 8 of Pentacles, 3 of Pentacles

Leave a ReplyCancel reply

● About Me

I wrote and published my first blog post on May 26, 2009. I was about to turn 36 and had been accepted to Mount Holyoke College as a non-traditional student, on my way to completing a Bachelor of Arts in English with a minor in Medieval Studies. I had managed, finally, to know what general direction I was traveling. As a self proclaimed voracious reader I knew that I needed a vocation that would allow me to engage daily with words: reading words, writing words, and hearing words. I also needed to eat, so I navigated my way to a teaching position and I began to fine tune my craft. I love to teach and I love my students, but I also needed to continue to hone my own literary technique, voice, and style. I continued my education in order to delve deeper into literature, making connections, and most definitely, writing. I gained more confidence as a reader as well as a writer of both creative and analytical text. That first blog post in 2009 is short, the writing average, and the topic mundane, but as I continued to learn from other writers I began to understand that to become a better writer I needed to write more. Each time I write and release a poem, a post, or a story, I hone my skills. I invite you along for the ride, for this journey of mine as I attempt to wrangle a wealth of ideas and competing directions into an organized freshly paved path to publication. I might get distracted along the way, but sometimes those detours lead us to amazing views and new friends.