After, they flap their wings and float off peacefully, as if nothing ever happened.
If the duck had a human mind, it would keep the fight alive by thinking, by story-making.
This would probably be the duck's story: "I don't believe what he just did. He came within five inches of me. He thinks he owns this pond. He has no consideration for my private space. I'll never trust him again. He annoys me. I'm sure he's plotting something already. But i'm not going to stand for this. I'll teach him a lesson he won't forget."
And on and on the mind spins its tales, still thinking and talking about it days, months or even years later.
As far as the body is concerned, the fight is still continuing, and energy it generates in response to all those thoughts is emotion, which in turn generates more thinking. This becomes the emotional thinking of the ego.
You can see how problematic the duck's life would be if it had a human mind.
But this is how most humans live all the time. No situations or events is ever really finished. The mind and mind-made "me and my story" keep it going.
We are species that has lost its way. Everything natural, flower, tree, animal have important lessons to teach us if we would only stop, look and listen.
Our duck's lesson is this: Flap your wings, which translate as "let go of the story" - and return to the only place of power: the present moment.
-E.Tolle
