I had recently acquired the skill of drawing a duck. A turtle duck from avatar the last airbender to be exact. 

And with this newly acquired skill and my lovely journal, I went to a retreat where I knew exactly one person. 3 hours into Gharo Retreating, I asked my dear friend Bhagat to draw a duck for me. I had to draw mine to illustrate. 

Ten minutes later, I was hanging with another person. You wanna draw a duck? Sure, I’ll draw a duck 

At about 11 ducks, I knew in my heart of hearts this was now a ~~ ~ thaang~ ~~ 

People loved drawing a duck! It was exciting to ask them for it, it was funny to see them draw, it was wonderful to see a handdrawn duck!!

We got 8 am slay ducks, fairy ducks, popeye the sailorduck, silly ducks, demon ducks, pary the platypusduck, dino ducks, german ducks, and is it really a duck? ducks. 

IT WAS A MIRACLE! It was magical! An adventure! 

There were 68 people at the retreat, there’s 55 ducks in my journal. That’s an 80.88% success rate, my friends. 

Point is — I HAD A BLAST! And you should definitely get people to draw ducks or Animal of Choosing because we all need a little fun and lightheartedness in our lives. People are going through shit man, and they’re probably terrified of being perceived in group settings. It’s worth risking the teensiest bit of embarrassment if the reward is a couple moments of childlike wonder and joy. 

ANYWAY. Enjoy these observations:

• People don’t want to be the first one to draw a duck on a new page

• No-one said no 

• They want reference images (ducks drawn by people before them count)

• I’m really bad at drawing

• A duck? Oh it’s been so long since I’ve drawn anything

• I dont know how to draw a duck Sarah jani can you draw a duck? 

• It took a couple of assurance and sometimes even 4 to get people drawing

• It takes great courage to say, “hey, I heard you’re getting people to draw ducks, can I?”

  
  

I hope seeing these ducks and reading about the people who drew these ducks brings you joy.