Following a recent snow storm, I watched a squirrel out my kitchen window as he hopped – up and down – up and down.  Each time he landed, he would disappear in the snow and then like a geyser, he popped up again.  I laughed to myself, as I thought,  “that poor squirrel is looking for nuts in all of that snow….does he not know there is not a snow balls chance….”

After a few minutes of watching the squirrel, I moved away from the window and continued working away at my computer.  After a while, I looked out the window again and there was the squirrel perched atop the snow happily eating a nut.  I had to laugh once again; this time at myself, because obviously, when it comes to finding nuts, I did not have a clue.

I am reminded of the number of times I have listened to the stories of friends or others who like that squirrel, found themselves having to fight against something over which they had no control.  It seemed that despite the planning for the wintery moments, the storms had a way of showing up anyway.

So what is it that we can learn from that squirrel?  Was it dumb luck that he found something to eat or had he knowingly prepared for that wintery day?

A few years ago, my husband shared his take on the nature of squirrels and it was his contention that the reason squirrels have food to eat is because they hedge their bets by burying nuts all summer so when the winter comes, anywhere they look they are bound to find a nut. He further shared that squirrels don’t remember where they bury their nuts, so to make sure they have food when it comes time to eat, they bury more than what they need.

What is funny too is that anyone who has ever observed squirrels knows that where there is one squirrel, there is a village.  And, so it goes in the life of the squirrel village, every squirrel burying for itself, but in the end, when winter comes, the entire village will have nuts to eat.

As people we can prepare for those wintery moments by filling not only our physical coffers by saving for a rainy day, but also by filling our emotional and spiritual coffers with what we will ultimately need.

And yes, there are some storms that might show up and the preparations you alone have made will not sustain you.  But, like the squirrels in the village, if you have filled your coffers with stuff that is beneficial and good for your emotional, spiritual and physical well-being; you will increase your odds of “popping” up each time.  It is important to note too that like squirrels in the village when we prepare for our storms individually, we also benefit the village.

And how do you fill your coffers?  You fill it first with the knowledge of not only who you are, but whose you are.  That is to say, build your life on a solid spiritual foundation. And then make sure you have at least one good friend; one who you know that no matter what, has your back.  And last but not least, be sure to take good care of your health.  Eat, live and move like your life depends on it; because it does.  That way when the storms come in the form of illness or other misfortunes;  and they will, if you live long enough, you will be mentally and physically able to fight – and fight to win!

Deigratia,

Bonnie McDaniel – Life That Works – copyright February 23, 2010