Marmots: A Surprising Resource
I had encountered marrmots before in Tuolumne Meadows in Yosemite. I would walk out to the middle of the meadows in the early evening and find a flat, granite rock to watch the sunset. On occasion, you could see marmots scatter in and out of the crevices of the rock, often taking that characteristic stance of sitting on their haunches. I would think how adorable they were, plus note how fast and tricky they could be should they have the chance to grab a bite of what you were eating. I felt grateful to share that special, peaceful place with them.
Flash to 8 years later, I am waiting to have my blood drawn the day prior to having a significant surgery. There is a TV screen with an antiquated, somewhat cheesy loop of videos showing nature scenes. In this particular scene, they were showing a mountainous forest with evergreen trees, a river and marmots scampering to and fro. It was a welcome distraction from the sterile hospital and anxiety coursing through my body as I prepared for my surgery the following morning. As I watched, I imagined the smell of the pine trees and damp earth, the feeling of the warm sun on my skin and the cool, refreshing water. I felt joy and a sense of wonder watching these creatures. It transported me back to Yosemite, a special place in my heart.
As I was being wheeled to the operating room the next day, the Nurse recommended that I envision a beautiful scene to help me relax prior to anesthesia. I returned to the forest and the marmots doing their thing, and before I knew it, I was awake in the ICU. I wasn’t aware of this at the time, but I had asked for a piece of paper to communicate to the staff and my family. On the sheet of paper, amongst exclamations of joy that the surgery was over, I had written the word marmots multiple times. These marmots were showing up for me from start to finish.
They were serving as a resource and guide for this unsettling experience. In that, they provided me with the following: perspective and a reminder that there is something greater - the natural world; a memory of a special place in nature that my body associated with relaxation and awe; an opportunity to laugh and feel lightness and silliness with their antics; moments of feeling more resourced and anchored in the world, a felt sense that I was going to be OK. Lastly, and this may be a bit woo, but some say that the marmot is a symbol of resilience and perseverance as they are able to survive in harsh environments. This was just what I was being asked to do, after the surgery and in the months following!
According to Sensorimotor Psychotherapy, a resource is anything that enhances your quality of life or helps you meet life’s challenges. It could be a survival resource, such as something that helps us cope with and endure distress or trauma. Or alternately, it could be a creative resource, something that helps us experience an overall sense of well being. Creative resources are essential to our mental health and to coping with life’s challenges.
Creative resources are truly endless! They could be somatic, relational, creative, spiritual, material, cognitive, psychological, or natural in origin.
They could include:
The feeling of moving your body
Remembering a time when you accomplished something challenging
Your beloved pets, friends or community
Being with someone that you trust
A way that you express yourself creatively: gardening, dancing, cooking, creating, singing…
Someone that you admire or inspires you
A special place in nature or a type of animal that you are drawn to
Your faith and belief in something greater
Your meditation practice
Financial security and/or access to work
Your favorite book or podcast
Anything or anyone that you love
A strength or something that you are good at
A soothing color or scent
A stone or crystal
They could be even more subtle such as placing your hand on your heart or taking a deep breath.
What are your resources? What may be a resource that you didn’t realize was one? And if you have difficulty thinking of resources, that’s OK too. There’s always potential to grow your resources - one breath at a time.