Art by Alvia Alcedo

Once upon a time… long, long ago but not so very far away there lived a wise and magical dragon. This dragon much preferred the company of a good book with a soft place to stretch out in the sunshine listening to the birds sing or soaring over the countryside gliding swiftly across the sky, like a cloud upon the wind or playing with the whales & dolphins, riding waves and swimming in the great blue seas or singing ,dancing and laughing with great gusto to any of the antics dragons are more commonly known for. Of course great strength was one of the dragons many attributes but strength does not always equal viciousness or an affinity for violence. In fact, this dragons strength was as calming as that of a giant redwood tree resonating the presence of an ancient wisdom with an underlying wit and cleverness that would alone defeat most challengers. Causing harm to any living being was not the nature of our hero knowing that all life is connected intricately through the web of life and all is sacred. This dragon’s heart was immense and deeply saddened by the unnecessary cruelty witnessed in the eons of existence already experienced. This is not to say here beats the heart of a coward by any means, just that a gentle existence of peace, respect, integrity, compassion and love was preferred and demonstrated whenever possible.

True strength and bravery are not best proven on the battlefield but by being a reflective example of what one believes to be right and good through ones daily actions even when it is not the popular opinion, and by living a life of honor and integrity and only fighting when all other avenues have been exhausted and only killing when evil will not be defused by any other means.