I am excited to see my resident chipmunk. 'Mini-bears' as we sometimes call them are scarce in the winter. Yet unlike bears and groundhogs, they do not hibernate. They go into a lighter dormancy called 'torpor.' In torpor, chipmunks drop their heart rate, breathing, and body temperature to conserve energy in the cold. Every few days they wake to eat, warm up, and relieve themselves of waste. This period of torpor lasts roughly from October to mid-March. Now that the weather is finally mostly nice, I can count on seeing my chipmunk running around the yard.
Like that chipmunk, it is time we transition from torpor. We need to leave the burrows of our home and run around outside, enjoying the sun's warmth and breathing fresh air. Yet some people live in a permanent state of torpor, rarely leaving the comfort of four walls and a roof. As such, they miss both the beauty and the benefits of the outdoors. This is very unhealthy; it leads to a shorter lifespan marked by missed opportunities. Don't let this be you. This is the season of rebirth – seize the day!
I will keep myself physically strong.