A year ago, we rescued a clutch of tiny ducklings from the dam here at Purple House.

Today there are twelve of them, plus a few extras who flew in from somewhere else and decided to stay.

Nobody sent those newcomers an invitation.

They simply arrived, and the flock made room for them.

Sometimes I wonder whether we rescued them; or whether, in their own quiet duck way, they’ve been rescuing us ever since.

For months our ducks moved the way most young flocks do: one tight little unit marching behind Pete every morning to get their breakfast near the dam, all stepping out together like a tiny feathered army with one shared mission.

Breakfast.

Follow the leader.

No questions asked.

Something has changed over the past few months.

Now they wander in pairs or little groups.

They explore different parts of the dam.

They choose their own companions and seem completely comfortable spending time apart.

Yet every evening, without fail, they come back together.

They preen each other’s feathers.

They stand side by side, all looking up at the sky as though they can see something the rest of us can’t.

Then, as the sun goes down, they settle into exactly the same sleeping formation, tucked up close to one another, peaceful and content.

Watch them swimming on the dam; they look completely at peace, barely a feather moving.

But underneath the water, their little legs are paddling the whole time, working constantly just to hold their position.

Calm on the surface, working hard underneath.

I think most of us have mastered that exact skill too, looking composed while our whole body is paddling flat out just to stay in place.

The older I get, the more I realize that some of life’s greatest teachers don’t walk on two legs.

• Sometimes they waddle.
• Sometimes they have feathers.
• Sometimes they quietly demonstrate truths that humans spend whole lifetimes trying to understand.

Watching our ducks, I realized they have learned something many of us are still trying to remember.

Belonging doesn’t mean disappearing.

Connection doesn’t require conformity.

A healthy flock doesn’t ask every bird to fly in exactly the same pattern.

Our ducks wander.

They explore.

They choose.

And then they come home.

They don’t reject the flock because they’ve discovered their independence, and they don’t lose themselves just to stay part of it.

Somehow, they manage both.

Many of us were taught something quite different.

That belonging meant becoming whoever everyone else needed us to be.

• We became the peacemaker.
• The rescuer.
• The good girl.
• The reliable one.
• The one who carried everyone else’s emotions while quietly placing our own dreams, needs and voice on the shelf.

Somewhere along the way, we confused belonging with abandoning ourselves.

We’ve had it backwards.

The healthiest relationships are the ones where you don’t have to become smaller in order to stay connected, where you’re free to grow, to change, to wander, and still know there is love waiting when you come back.

There’s an old saying that fits our ducks perfectly.

Birds of a feather flock together.

The five people we spend the most time with quietly shape us.

It’s not just their outlook and habits rubbing off on us either.

It’s things we’d never think to measure, from our daily behaviours and expectations to the invisible world of our gut microbiome.

Even our gut microbiomes become the same as the colleagues we spend a lot of time with in the same office, for instance. 

Our five closest friends influence what we believe is normal or possible, and we establish a similar ceiling or upper limit for our own health, happiness, and finances!

The people around us either expand our world or they quietly shrink it.

Often without anyone even noticing.

So it’s worth asking yourself …

• Who is in your flock?
• Who leaves you feeling lighter and uplifted?
• Who drains your energy?
• Who encourages you to become more of yourself rather than less?
• Who celebrates your growth instead of feeling threatened by it?
• And are you choosing relationships that allow your whole self to exist?

You may not have been able to choose the family you were born into, or the tribe you grew up in.

But you can choose who you walk beside from here.

You can love your original flock without abandoning yourself to belong to it.

That’s one of the reasons Pete and I have spent the last three decades building Purple House this way.

We never wanted it to be just another clinic where people came in, bought a supplement and went home.

We wanted to create a flock.

A place where people could learn together, heal together, laugh together and rediscover what their bodies were capable of.

Because hope is contagious and so is healing.

Healthy habits are contagious.

When you surround yourself with people who genuinely want to become healthier, happier and wealthier in every sense of the word, something remarkable begins to happen.

You slowly become like them.

If you’d like a taste of that lifestyle, we’d love to share it with you.

You can start with our free Wellness Guide, filled with many of the habits and principles we live by here at Purple House.

And if you’re ready to discover what your own body has been quietly trying to tell you, book a Diagnostic Session with Pete, Caleb or me.

Sometimes one of the most powerful things you can do for your health is simply choose a better flock to heal alongside.

👉 Download your free Wellness Guide

👉 Book your Diagnostic Session

Who are the people in your flock who make you feel more like yourself?

The ones who leave you feeling lighter, braver, more hopeful, more inspired, or simply more at peace after you’ve spent time together.

And what is one small way you can choose yourself this week without feeling guilty?

Simply reply to this blog or leave a comment if you’re reading this online.

Your story might be exactly what someone else needs to hear.

After all, we never really know whose flock we might be helping to shape.

I’d love to hear from you.

Ready to take the next step?

We’d love to welcome you at Purple House Wellness Centre, open Wednesday to Friday, 9am to 5pm (kitchen closes at 3pm).

You can walk in, call us on 03 6428 3007, or visit our website to book online, download free eBooks, browse past blogs, or order supplements from the comfort of home.

Postal orders are also available, so just give us a call and we’ll take care of you.

If you’re curious about the living water we use at home, at the clinic, and in the kitchen, call Peter directly on 0428 283 007 as he loves a good conversation about it.

If you’re feeling the pull toward something more, a career shift, deeper healing, or connection with a like-minded community, the Miracle Method Immersion might be exactly what you’ve been looking for. Learn more here.

For seasonal menus, behind-the-scenes moments, and updates on what we’re creating, follow Purple House Kitchen on Facebook and Instagram.

Yours to great health,

Grada and the Purple House Team

Grada

Grada Robertson, MNM
Master of Natural Medicine
Doctoral Candidate in Natural Medicine (Psychosomatic University / Holographic Manipulation Therapy with Drs. Gabe & Tiffany Roberts)

Grada is a three-time Amazon Bestselling Author of the trilogy: You Are the Miracle, The Underbelly, and Alchemy of Love.

Disclaimer:
Our content is for educational purposes only, based on our personal journey and research. It is not medical advice. We are not medical professionals. Always consult your doctor or healthcare provider for any medical diagnoses or treatment. The information we share is intended for learning and discussion and should not replace professional medical guidance. Any actions you take based on this content are solely your responsibility.