Get off the anthill of life
Life was good for Jacob, who sits and watches the anthill as his mum hangs out the washing. They are going to the movies and he is on school holidays – a special day in his life. It is a beautiful sunny day and he had looked forward to this. He is amused by the way the ants move to and fro busily from one mound to another.
Anthony jumps out of bed and races to the door. He is late for work and has an important meeting with the boss. It could be the day that changes his life. He hurriedly showers, dresses, grabs an apple and runs to the car. He forgets his glasses and wallet. Races back into the house and finds them. He races back to the car.
Annabel, his wife, is also in a hurry. She races out of the house with the three kids behind her, bags on their backs and lunches in their hands. She throws herself into the car and on the road to school. Anthony is just ahead of her. Quick wave in the car to him and blows a kiss. Mornings are such a rush. Annabel drops the kids off and continues on to work. The kids race into the school just as the bell goes and they go three separate ways. Life is so busy in the mornings. Annabel now joins the motorway queues and sits in the car, her little box where she puts on her make-up on the way. Water and lunch are sitting tidily on the seat. Got that right, anyway.
Meanwhile, Anthony arrives at work. He grabs the lunch, the glasses, the iPad, the phone. Oops! He forgot the file for Davidson. He races back for it. There it is in the boot. Got it! He races into the office building and up the stairs to the meeting.
Annabel finally gets off the motorway. She arrives at work. Went to go into a car spot and another person stole it. Damn! There goes more minutes of driving around looking for another parking spot. She backs into the spot. No. Not quite got it. Try that again. Finally she backs in properly. Grabs water, lunch, bag on shoulder and into the building. She races up the stairs. She forgot the mobile. She races back to the car. Let’s try that again.
Anthony and Annabel have a busy day at work. Up and down the lift and escalators. He has a lunch meeting in the city. Takes the car. He is back on the road again – into the queues. Has a quick bite to eat. They both need a sugar fix. They are so tired. Why does life have to be so busy? Grab some chocolate. It’s his fifth cup of coffee. Not good. Never mind. Worry about that tomorrow. Need it.
It’s time to get off the treadmill and stop racing about, in cars on the motorway like ants in a line.
Oh, my gosh! Its 4pm – Anthony has one more meeting to go. Annabel is on way to get the kids. Thank goodness its sports today and she can get them a bit later. Finally, she picks them up and they join the queues on the motorway back home. Oops, got to stop at Mum’s to pick up the flowers for tomorrow. Stop at Mum’s. She races out of the car. Thanks Mum. Quick kiss – bye Mum! No time in life for anything more. Back to car and drive kids home.
Three rowdy kids run out of the car and into house. They race up the stairs, grabbing some snacks on the way. Off for changing clothes, showers and homework. Annabel is in the kitchen making dinner. Anthony’s arrived home now. They eat food. Their homework is now done. One child goes to training. They are now out on the road again. Finally, training for them is over. Come back home. It’s time to shower and go to bed, kids. Anthony and Annabel crash on the couch. Then off to bed to start it all over again tomorrow.
Jacob watches as the ants race from one anthill to another. Collect their food. Three ants run into one anthill and disappear. Another ant races into a new anthill. First ant races also into a new anthill. Ants come back out and form a line like a queue of cars. One after the other they advance toward the huge mound. Stop for a mouldy apple core on the way – food for the day. New ants come out of the surrounding holes and anthills. Jacob is amused. Mum’s finished hanging out the washing now. He abandons the anthills to go to the movies. The ants don’t know Jacob is gone. This is their whole life. They still keep running round, queuing up day after day…until they die.
When was the last time you ran like Annabel and Anthony to your new anthill? Racing to the office, the school, the job, to training, to pick up shopping…rush, rush, rush….like ants on a sunny day from one anthill to the other with food on their backs. It’s time to get off the treadmill and stop racing about, in cars on the motorway like ants in a line.
Do you want to be part of the ant colony or do you want to stand out and be the individual and empowered? It’s your decision. What can you do right now to enhance your life? Right in this moment you can turn your whole world around.
