The Tenacity of Ants

They walk quickly in a line, almost two-by-two, as they travel from the corner of the kitchen window, onto the sill and along the side of the wall until they reach the kitchen counter. There they divide into two separate lines, one group hugging the seam of the counter moving toward the sink and dishwasher, another group climbing into the compost bowl.

The ants drive me crazy!! My sweet husband says “Don’t worry about them, they’re not doing any harm.” He is right, after all, but for some reason they really annoy me. When I stand against the counter to wash in the sink, they climb onto my clothes tickling my skin. When I need to prepare food, I have to thoroughly wash the counter to clear them all away.

We do not use harsh chemicals at our house, so I researched essential oils that deter ants. I mixed up the lovely scents and sprayed the window, wall, seams and countertop. It works! The ants stay away for a while, but they soon come back. The tenacity of those ants.

What can I learn from those little bugs?

Keep moving. They are always on the move, never deterred from their task of finding food. And the kitchen is a great place to do just that! I can learn to look in the right places for what I’m seeking and to stay focused on the task without distraction.

Work in teams. There are no lone ants; they stay in a line and work together. I can learn to stay in my own lane but to rely on the assistance of family and friends as I make my way through the day.

Perseverance. No matter how many times I chase them away, they keep coming back. I must decide what really matters in my life and keep coming back to it again and again.

Perhaps now that I have come to appreciate the ants they will be persuaded to go away. Or maybe we will just learn to co-exist.