In case you start wondering what squirrels have to do with massage – this one is not about massage. I occasionally write about other things in life.
I have a few hickory trees in my yard. They are mature trees that produce nuts (hickory nuts that is), so I therefore have quite a few squirrels in my yard too.
One pleasant early fall day I was sitting on my deck enjoying the nice weather and trying not to think for a while. The squirrels are busy in the fall gathering and storing the nuts. The trees make more nuts than the squirrels eat and collect. I always find plenty on the ground in the spring, and living in northern Ohio there isn’t anything growing over the winter.
As I was sitting on the deck I heard two squirrels squawking at each other. One was in a tree, with a nut. One was on the ground, with a nut. Their argument went on for a while. I wanted to tell them (if only I could speak squirrel!): ” Hey you silly squirrels. There are plenty of nuts for both of you. There are plenty of trees too. Why are you arguing?”
I don’t know what the argument was about. It could have been the nut one had and the other wanted it, or the tree one was in, or some perceived squirrel insult. Maybe one was having a bad fur day. But to me it looked silly.
It made me reflect that we look silly to others sometimes with our arguments and how we treat each other.
If you have enough, with plenty more available, are you content? It is a peaceful feeling to know you have enough. I’m not saying you should not be ambitious and have goals of what you want to accomplish in the future. Just as the squirrels were collecting the nuts for the coming winter we have times we need to be busy providing and storing up what we will need. But for a moment each day be grateful that you have enough. When you have enough, you can share some of what you have or share your knowledge and experience on how you got to that point with somebody who needs it.
Our society through advertising doesn’t want us to be content with what we have. We are told we need the latest cell phone, electronic gadgets, vehicles, and on and on. You don’t have to listen to them. People work extra just to buy more things and they miss out on having time to do what they want to do in their life. You can buy more things and get more money but you can’t get time back or get more of it. Use it the way you want.
What do you do on a bad fur day? It happens on occasion. Know that it happens to the people around you too and their turn is coming. It’s also a temporary situation that you will forget about soon. Don’t make it memorable by taking your frustration out on somebody else who had nothing to do with causing your problem.
There are plenty of trees and nuts out there. Stop for a minute, catch your breath, calm your mind, and appreciate what you have. If you have enough, be content, at least for a while.
Barry is a licensed Massage Therapist at Main Street Massage in Hudson, Ohio. Find out more about him, his business, and massage at www.HudsonMassageTherapy.com
