Hickory dickory dock, the mouse ran up the clock;
The struck one, the mouse ran down, Hickory dickory dock.
On the surface, this playful rhyme seems to simply follow the antics of a tiny mouse. Yet, like so many timeless stories, it carries a deeper message. That mouse, scurrying up and down the clock, could be each of us—curious, ambitious, navigating life’s rhythms.
We climb, striving to reach new heights, eager to explore what’s ahead. Then, suddenly, the clock strikes one—a moment that startles us, interrupts our plans, or shifts our perspective. Perhaps it’s a challenge, an unexpected event, or even an opportunity disguised as chaos. The mouse runs down, a natural reaction to pause, regroup, or find safety.
Life, much like the clock, has its own rhythm—one we can’t control. The “strikes” we encounter are inevitable, and they shape how we move forward. Some may push us to retreat, while others may call us to reflect. But always, there is the potential to climb again, to face life’s ticks and tocks with renewed courage.
This rhyme reminds us that resilience isn’t about avoiding life’s interruptions but learning to adapt to them. Whether we scurry back up immediately or take a moment to gather ourselves, we eventually find our way forward. Life’s rhythm, unpredictable as it may be, carries lessons worth living and stories worth sharing.