Nature Has Many Lessons To Teach; Consider The Spider
For Personal Development, I Often Turn to Nature. “To shed your skin, every old skin, one by one and then walk away, unencumbered, into the morning.” — Tony Kushner
Argiope Spider
Personal development and spiders may seem like a strange contrast. Some people find spiders creepy. I think they are extremely fascinating. They rid my garden of potentially dangerous insects, create magnificent works of art, and look absolutely beautiful in the sunlight.
Most spiders tend to live one or two years. They live in a variety of habitats. Definitely predators, finding and capturing prey.
In addition to reducing local disease-carrying insects, they also provide us with medical benefits. Did you know spider venom is used in neurological research and may prevent permanent brain damage in stroke victims.? The silk produced by spiders is used in many optical devices including laboratory instruments. There is a place in this world for spiders!
How will this topic relate to your personal development? This is a post about shedding your old life (or skin), not sitting around feeling sorry for yourself, and moving onward and upward, like this beautiful spider. To shed the old exoskeleton, the spider has to bust out from the inside. It increases its heart rate to pump a lot of hemolymph (the spider’s blood) from the abdomen into the cephalothorax. The pressure expands the cephalothorax, which pushes on the old exoskeleton until it cracks. The spider flexes its muscles until the old exoskeleton falls away. What can we learn from this process?
- The spider cannot grow unless it sheds its hard exterior exoskeleton. The spider has to have the desire to grow and push outward from the inside. If you want to grow, to change, to expand your knowledge and become the person you were meant to be, you have to work, use your whole heart and sole to push from the inside, work at it! There will be pressure. This will be a process. It will take time, desire, perseverance, and persistence.
- Did you know a spider does most of its growing immediately after shedding its old exoskeleton? This is when the spider is highly flexible. Shedding your “old skin” isn’t easy. And, it may hurt a little! But, in the end, you will have made a change for the better. Be stronger, wiser, and have a new look! One of confidence!
- It will take a bit of time for the new exoskeleton to harden and protect the spider. At first, you may feel strange. But, you will adjust to your new skin and will feel quite comfortable in it!
- Another day in the life of a spider.
About a week later, I checked up on her (her web is under the eave of my house) and she is larger, her coloring has changed, and she was just wrapping up her lunch. Look at this photo and the changes I’ve noted. Was shedding her skin painful? I will never know. I do know it took a bit of effort to wriggle out of her old skin. Was the change worth it? I think so; and I’ll bet she does too!
There is a great deal we can learn by observing nature. Nature is ancient. It has devised ways to evolve, survive, and be so diverse!
My desire is that if you were a “spider hater” when you started reading this post, maybe now you can at least respect their place in the world.
I chose this video as this is a very close relative of my spider. See the grace and beauty set to J.S. Bach’s “Air” music.
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To your prosperity,
To your prosperity and online success,
Deborah, this is powerful, “It has devised ways to evolve, survive, and be so diverse!” The statement demonstrates the order that in what appears to be chaos. Your article reaffirms that everything has a place and purpose in life. Let us look for the purpose.
Perry A Davis Jr
Music City USA
Perry A Davis Jr recently posted..What is the most vital ingredient for success in network marketing
Perry, I always enjoy your visits. It confirms that I’m doing something right!
I enjoy your blog as well. Always straight to the point, no nonsense, and great tips! I’m glad to have you as a fellow TSA Tribe Member and friend.
Deborah
What a great analogy Deborah. I loved it the most when you said “Did you know a spider does most of its growing immediately after shedding its old exoskeleton?” That’s exactly what happens to us when we make the choice to leave our past behind us. We expand so rapidly during that time.
Thanks so much for this post,
Michael
Beautiful lesson and artfully written, I love it! I was never a spider hater but now you’re turning me into a spider lover. Nature is a symphony in which the spider and Bach and we all play a part. Thanks for featuring your spider as the solo artist.
Hi Deborah,
Interesting new theme here on your blog. It’s looking good, gal.
Thanks for the great analogy. I wouldn’t have made that comparison at all. It is so very true that sometimes we have to “bust loose” and “break though” in order to continue our journey and you are right on in saying that it may actually even hurt a little.
Linnea recently posted..Does “Tribing” Pay
Thanks for commenting, Linnea. I appreciate the positive feedback! Your blog has become so informative. I love stopping by the various blogs and reading all the great content. There is so much online to choose from and I think yours has a lot to offer!
Keep doing what you’re doing; its’ working!
Deborah
Deborah,
What a powerful analogy. It is true that there are tons of lessons to learn from studying nature and animals. My little toy poodle teaches me lessons on a regular basis.
Spiders used to scare me a lot, but when you put Bach with them, they become artful.
Darlene Davis recently posted..The Lost Art of Writing
I love your new blog theme. You got this done really fast unless you have been working on it in the background. Very cool, the other one was a little busy. This is a poem I wrote about a spider last year. I had a spider that lived by my hose bib almost all summer and had another one that actually caught a lizard. I don’t know where that spider is now, but I don’t want to bump into him in an alley!
Fly Catching
In my morning mirror
I see only my limitations
With eight pointed legs
And letters scribbled
Between the boxwood hedge
I see how she waits
And filters everything
Through her soft ivory web
I see how she waits
For her world to come around
What are the odds -
Of catching a fat, juicy grasshopper this way?
In my morning mirror
I see most of my days
Are not even bright enough
For catching flies this way
I like the analogy of the spider you use. The poem was more about taking action and not waiting around for things to come to us, but I like the theme of shedding skin. I did not even know they shed their skin. I can’t think of anything we cannot learn from nature. All the answers to everything we ever want to know is spelled out in the trees. Thanks for sharing this. Really love the new blog!
Nicole Rushin recently posted..Elements and Themes- Notions from a Porch Swing
Nicole, the first time I found your blog, I knew we were kindred souls! Not many really look at the wonder of nature that surrounds us. I have several of these spiders now. Because of the overwhelming food supply, they’re really getting big! The one in this photo is full of eggs now and she’s huge! I never seem to have a problem with being inspired to write a new post. Sometimes my problem is pinpointing what I should write about because I have too much sensory input! LOL!
Wishing you all the online success you truly deserve,
Deborah
Deborah,
I just love coming back to your blog, by reading more blogs i am getting more intune with Nature and gardening which are passions i love but never got to read up on them in blogs until now. Interesting facts about spiders although for me i prefer to look at them from afar, i just have a phobia about spiders…
Chris Bernardo recently posted..Top 5 Questions- I want to know about YOU
Thanks Chris! I appreciate each time you come by for a visit! You’ve been blogging for quite awhile and I always learn something new from you! I appreciate the positive feedback!
Warm regards,
Deborah
Hi Deborah,
Great name!
This was a really good analogy of spiders and personal development. How true it is that we have to push outside our comfort zone, even experience pain, in order to grow. We should be as willing as spiders to move forward, burst out, and grow! Thanks for sharing.
Debbie Stevens recently posted..Action- Fun and Adventure
Thanks, Debbie for getting my intention with this post! Change can be stressful but is necessary for growth. I’m so glad you stopped by!
Best wishes for your online success!
Deborah