Fire ants - photo by Richard Becker
Trail pheromones are a chemical secretion that leads members of a species towards a food source while also serving as a territorial marker. Many ants use such a chemical trail between their nest site and a source of food. Each colony carries a unique set of pheromones to communicate different messages; ants use their antennas to receive these messages. The initial trailblazer will leave secretions to alert others to their discovery. Ants will then recognize the chemical signal, follow the trail to the food, and renew the chemical mark on the way back to the nest. Once the food source is gone, the ants skip the renewal process and allow the pheromones to diffuse and weaken.
Eknath Easwaran wrote, "In everyday life, we are shaped by what gains our attention and occupies our thoughts." When we slow down and place our attention in the here and now, we have a chance to notice the joy and beauty hidden in the ordinary. As we observe the natural, inevitable course of impermanence, we come to understand how precious life is. We begin to notice small kindnesses and realize the effort at connection another person has made. Closely attending to these gifts can develop into a practice that will enrich our lives - gratitude. With experience, we mature beyond conventional gratitude and find things to appreciate in our challenges as well. Like the ant's trail, the evidence is there if we only take time to look for it.
For more information on gratitude, see this post.
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