No Worry Squirrel

A few weeks ago, I happened to look at the tree in my back yard. A squirrel was running from branch to branch. He (or she) would occasionally stop and sit ... nibble on leaves, bark or seeds. Then the squirrel would start to run again, leaping from one branch to another and following a trail that only a squirrel could know.

This was normal behavior for the squirrels who visited my yard. 

Yet on THIS particular day, Squirrel hung completely upside down, clinging to the tree with his (or her) back legs and paws – stretching his (or her) upper body out into the air. 

Completely unsupported ... paws reaching out ...

I had to wonder whether the critter was engaged in a squirrel version of gymnastics, trying to get the attention of a buddy, taking a moment to enjoy the breeze or simply airing out his (or her) armpits.

THEN I contemplated the ease by which a squirrel traveled through the trees ... leaped from limb to limb ... navigated trails on land and over rooftops.

And for a moment (being somewhat fanciful in my thinking), I asked myself ...

"Does the Squirrel ever worry?"

Now I will admit to being no stranger to "worry" – which is likely why I worried (just a little bit) about Squirrel falling off the tree and landing on his head. And I confess there were seasons in my life in which "worry" greeted me when I awoke ... stayed with me throughout my days ... consumed my thoughts as I went to sleep. 

Oh my. The hours and days that were squandered by "worry!"