Ants in My Pants

Have you ever dealt with something that is seemingly inconsequential and yet it seems to have taken up much of your attention? Something that you know you should conquer and you can’t for the life of you understand how it seems to be winning? That is where I find myself at the moment … with ANTS!!!. Yes, I have an ant infestation! I kid you not, my home has been invaded. No room is safe from these microscopic creatures, they have taken over. They also seem to be rather immune to my apparently feeble attempts to get rid of them. The last enquiry revealed a solution that will cost me the house itself.

I once read somewhere that for one to defeat their enemy they will need to understand them first. So I decided to study my enemy and understand the secret to their success. And I must say, what I have come up with has left me begrudgingly impressed. I guess there are a few things I could learn from these pests. Below is a list of insights I have gathered from observing these unwanted guests.

1. Be mission oriented – ants don’t just roam around aimlessly, they are always on a mission. They do not waste their energy on pointless undertakings. Makes me wonder about how I spend my time and how much time I waste on useless pursuits. This is an important lesson for many of us. Imagine how much you would accomplish if you had half the focus of ants on a mission.

2. Simplify – the mission of any ant is simple, they need to survive. You have to respect the simplicity of their hustle. I need to learn to focus on my mission, simplify it and not complicate my life.

3. Be consistent – drop a piece of food anywhere, you are guaranteed ants will find it, almost instantly. ALL THE TIME! They always show up. I need to be just as consistent, I really do.

4. Don’t stop the hustle – I have seen ants show up with what seems to be the same energy no matter how big or small the target is. And they keep coming back, again and again. I need to learn from ants how to respect my hustle and not allow myself to be deterred.

5. Work in silence – you don’t usually hear ants coming but before you know it they are there. We should adopt the same modus operandi … stop bragging and talking too much. Just do your work and let the results speak for themselves.

6. Stop complaining – I have never heard an ant’s cry. I wonder if they even do. I am convinced they just move on. One ant gets killed and the rest just move on, crawling right past. No mourning, no grieving, no time for a pity party. Just move on swiftly. A skill I am yet to master. Not that I want to suppress my emotions, but I do need to learn to move on and let go of things sooner rather than later.

7. Be adaptable – it used to be that ants don’t come when its cold or rainy but now it seems they are present in all weather and all seasons. I am convinced that they have adapted somehow. A lesson about adjusting to change. Things change, that’s the one constant we are guaranteed in life, things will change. We really need to learn how to adapt in order to survive.

8. Own your advantage – the advantage ants have is their size as well as their numbers. I have seen ants crawl into or come out of spaces I didn’t even know had openings. And then once some food has been discovered, what looks like a million ants suddenly appears. The last stroke was when I found ants in a yet to be opened packet of crisps. It was mindboggling how they could achieved what seems to be the impossible, but they did. I need to identify what my advantage is and start utilising it. I don’t think I am benefiting from the privileges I have.

9. Maximise team work – ants travel and hunt in packs. It is rare to find a lone ant, if you see one it is probably out scouting and the crowd will soon follow. I have seen them try carry a piece to food a hundred times their size, working together and supporting each other. Its amazing what we can achieve if only we determined to work together.

10. Have no fear – have you ever watched ants trying to navigate an obstacle? I have sat and watched them try and try and try. They will do everything in their power to get past it, especially if there is a promise of food on the other side of the obstacle. To them there really is no mountain too high. I am convinced that ants do not experience fear. If they would not take on the tasks that they do. And that is the secret to their survival. When I look back I see so many things I missed out on because of fear. Makes me wonder where my life would be if I had just a little less fear.

And then in my research I discovered that ants are actually matriarchal. They do all that work to protect, take care of and serve their queen. I don’t know why but something about that piece of information has given me new respect for them. They really are a well meaning community.

Now if only I could find a nice safe place for them, away from my home. We could even share the garden, that wouldn’t bother me as much. Then I would continue to admire them, from an acceptable distance.