How Feeding the Squirrels Has Helped My Depression

Especially in winter, it's easy to feel blue. I've struggled with depression my whole life, but the winter blues have always been the worst. I know I'm not alone, because the internet is full of websites and message boards for people who want to overcome depression, and the winter issues of just about every mainstream consumer magazine at the supermarket checkout aisle are covered with headlines on beating the winter blues. I've seen counselors and therapists, been the guinea pig for all the latest anti-depressants, all to no avail. This winter, I've found my own cure: feeding the squirrels.

The pine trees in my front yard are full of nests, so I knew they were out there. One day, I decided to dump some stale old nuts outside, since I was going to toss them in the trash anyway. I figured I'd rather contribute to the hungry animal fund than the trash bin. So, I opened my front door and tossed the nuts. Before I could turn away to go back inside, one little squirrel had run down the trunk of a tree and found herself a little snack. She turned to me and showed me her belly and then began making a little clicking noise with her mouth. I soon realized, this is how squirrels call out to their buddies. Within minutes, there were three more squirrels happily bouncing around and joining in on eating a mid-morning snack. Soon, several more showed up for the feast.

For about half an hour, I sat on my front step watching the squirrels eat and play with each other. After they'd each eaten a few nuts, they began on their quest for burying the remaining nuts in the yard. Their process was very amusing, as they'd fight with each other like squabbling siblings over which squirrel could have which nut. They'd chase each other around and even bat at each other's ears in attempt to distract each other from the nut pile. Really, there was more than enough for all of them, and most likely, they'd never find the all the nuts they'd buried by the next snowfall, but who am I to argue with the instinct of a squirrel? I was being thoroughly entertained, so I had no complaints.