It all started when I saw a screech owl on the wire that runs through my back yard.
I immediately called Chuck, my awesome handyman. “We must put up an owl nesting box!! And it must have a CAMERA in it so I can see the baby owls!!!”
“You’re so weird! I’ll be right over!” He installed the box and the weirdest owls moved in almost right away.
They were squirrels.
…and while I did not install the box for squirrels, I have to admit, watching relaxed squirrel-ies up close was pretty adorable.
Six months later, the Owl-Cam battery died, so Chuck came over and set up his ladder. As he gently tapped on the bottom of the box, he called down to me, “Is anyone in here?”
I rolled my eyes at him, “How the heck should I know? The battery is dead, remember?” (We are kind of like an old married couple!) He tapped again and reached into the box!
In an instant there was nails scampering over tree bark, Chuck squealing like a baby pig (if you tell him I said that, I’ll deny it!) and leaves rustling.
“WHAT THE H**L WAS THAT” Chuck panted, eyes like saucers.
“That was the squirrel. She was in there!”
That was almost two months ago, and the box has been empty ever since.
For the first couple days, I checked multiple times a day. Every time I saw no movement on the camera feed, I felt sad, frustrated and impatient. I even considered smearing the inside of the box with peanut butter. (a gross and non-cute-resident attracting strategy)
Then I realized that Sammy (the former-funny-looking-owl resident) was probably traumatized, and it was likely she wouldn’t be back, and my original plan was for screech owls to move in, so maybe this was the perfect opportunity for them to take over the box.
So instead of checking for Sammy to return, I checked obsessively for owls.
Nothing except more frustration and sadness.
Sometimes what we want requires a “set it and forget it” approach…or at least a little patience.
As humans in today’s “immediate gratification” world, we need to build a self-awareness that sometimes things, especially the important big things take time.
- Weight loss.
- Emotional healing.
- Others overcoming their resistance to change.
- Settling into a new uncomfortable and unchangeable reality.
Time heals, so when you’re in the thick of discomfort, try not to stare at it, waiting for immediate resolution. Ask yourself, “Is there anything I can do about this right now?” and if the answer is ‘yes’, DO IT!
And if the answer is “no, I’ve done all I can for now.”, choose to focus your attention somewhere else for a while.
Yes it’s a choice, and yes you can!
Go get ’em Tiger! (or don’t…and be patient!)
