The Ants Go Marching

one by one…

Dear Fellow Earth Inhabitant…

I am experiencing a great deal of turmoil of late. I know the source of my angst, and I wonder how many are like-minded at this point in our shared human existence? What does this year of the snake hold for us as citizens? Are you leading less than a charmed life?

Last year was filled with ups and downs. For many, there were more downs than ups.

Loss in life is inevitable, our own death being the culmination. It is an unavoidable appointment set at the moment of conception. It is often viewed as arriving too soon. I experienced the loss of two very nice men, Glenn and Roger, in my Venn Diagram, both occurring this time last year; certainly these losses are a component of my current funk. The partners they left behind, very good friends/family of mine, have spent the year learning to mourn, learning to live without. I understand their journey, having tread this path twice. From my experience I know life does get incrementally, albeit infinitesimally, more okay each day. So small are these steps towards the new normal that it is sometimes hard to discern any improvement. Forest for the trees. I have purposely flipped backward through 28 years in my calendar to ferret out mile markers of healing along my road. Sometimes they were hard to identify, other times stars lit up the sky. I endeavor to endure.

Looking back, my mile markers look like stepping stones leading me to be less reactive, to generate positive energy proactively, to be kind and patient with myself and others.

Start a new journey by searching out your own stepping stones. Celebrate them, purposefully create more, so many more in fact that your ocean of loss becomes your personal pathway of positive healing, generously sprinkled with these remembrances – these landing spots of peace. As February drew to a close, and March rolls through I am remembering Roger and Glenn. Having lost two husbands myself, I remember making it to that first year anniversary and wondering how I got there. While incredibly sad, the day became a mile post and I remember with appreciation those that supported me in so many ways – my own army of fellow ants came to my rescue.

Take a lesson from the ant world, join forces to take up the fight...

Ants are tenacious and diligent in their work. They are very good caretakers of each other and the youngsters. Sometimes they go underground, like a revolutionary army. They communicate using chemical compounds called pheromones, smell and their antennae.

They can climb the tallest peaks, dig out nests bigger than a house, and they protect their territory with multitudes of tiny warriors. In the jungles, ants form enormous armies of marauding mouths eating everything that can’t outrun them. They invade our homes and can be nearly impossible to get rid of. They are so tough, collaborative, and winning, they may be the last inhabitants of this planet along with the less attractive roach.

We march through our lives singly because we are individuals. But we have the option to not remain alone. We can join forces, link arms, march into that good night stronger, more empowered, because we can choose to engage for our better good, and in the process enable others to join. The good fight is fought when individuals put self aside and ultimately all of humanity benefits.

March 8 – International Women’s Day…By the time this newsletter is published we will have missed the actual day of celebration, but celebrate all month, or better yet, all year!

March 14 – Pi Day! Pi Day is an annual celebration of the mathematical constant π. Pi Day is observed on March 14 since 3, 1, and 4 are the first three significant figures of π, and was first celebrated in the United States. It was founded in 1988 by Larry Shaw, an employee of a science museum in San Francisco, the Exploratorium.

March 14 – World Sleep Day! Sleep is important to a number of brain functions, including how nerve cells (neurons) communicate with each other. In fact, your brain and body stay remarkably active while you sleep. Recent findings suggest that sleep plays a housekeeping role that removes toxins in your brain that build up while you are awake. For more sleep facts, click on Nigel.

March 18, 19 – If you are up for a little travel to break your baseball fast, grab your passport and head to Tokyo for the MBL’s 2025 opening day; it is the sixth time in history a season opener has been in Japan. Batter up!

March 20 – Vernal Equinox…During an equinox, the sun is positioned directly above the equator, which means daylight and darkness are equally balanced. Equinox marks the beginning of spring and symbolizes renewal and awakening. Bring this spring energy into your life!

And, don’t forget, March is National Nutrition Month –

Go eat something healthy!
…ice cream is healthy, right?
Love and Hugs,
GCC