On Wednesday, I woke up well before dawn feeling a bit batty because the previous night I stayed up to watch the 2020 Presidential Debate. Somehow I managed to keep the television on for the full 90 minutes. Three out of four members of the household watched and tried to understand what was going on. Never had I envied my little one more! She happily sat at the kitchen table drawing and listening to music while the rest of us suffered through the nonsense. I swear debates between my teenage son and his friends are more educational than the squabbling that occurred between the current president and former vice president . It was truly maddening. I couldn’t believe what I was hearing. Seriously, if I wanted to end my evening irritated and enraged I would have invited a group of snotty, insecure pre-pubescent girls to the house for a slumber party.

But enough about that. I’m not here to discuss feeling batty after witnessing a verbal train wreck. Nope, I’m here to wonder about something far more terrifying to some and a lot more interesting to me. Let me take you back, a few nights prior, to the evening of September 27. I was out at the barn finishing my evening chores. The moon had risen in the indigo sky and I was fully enjoying the warm late September weather. As I was walking through the pasture putting out hay for the horses I listened to all the night time sounds - chirping, trilling, and clicking. Now keep in mind my eyes were on the ground as I was watching my steps, so imagine my surprise when I looked up to see a small form fly at my face, suddenly swooping to avoid a collision. I quickly tossed out the remainder of the overnight rations and walked back into the circle of light emanating from the barn. I stood still and kept my focus on the sky. There above me were little brown bats twirling and swirling as they feasted on whatever and whichever insects they were finding. They were diving and gliding above and around my head and even going low enough to encourage the barn cats to leap in an attempt to catch them. Of all days for me to be having a really big hair day! Just kidding. I’ve never had to shave my head after having a bat get stuck in my hair. However, it was a huge fear of mine when I was a child.

The truth is I adore bats but then again you’d be hard pressed to find a creature I don’t love. These tiny flying mammals are both interesting and beneficial. Seriously, though for animals that weigh only a fraction of an ounce and rely on echolocation during their nocturnal pursuits they can have a huge impact on your backyard environment. You see, they are voracious insectivores and can do a lot of damage to your local insect population. I consider them free and entertaining pest control from Spring to Fall. So the next time you see little brown bats (or the still small big brown bats) try to relax and enjoy the acrobatic show. Chances are you’ll leave it mosquito bite free and with a full head of hair.

In all my years of watching bats I must say I’ve never had one land on me nor have I ever heard them. The only reference I had was the generic movie scene of hundreds of them flying out of a cave squeaking. Anyway, on this night they had my attention and I was able to hear their sounds first hand. It was exciting because bats usually make sounds that are two or three times higher than humans can hear. I was only able to pick up low clicks as the tiny creatures of the night used echolocation. If I had been able to record the vocalizations and slow them down I would have heard very different tonal sounds. No matter, I was thrilled to be witness to their nightly activity even if they were dive bombing me for the insects I attracted.

I’m sure you know where this is heading. I think today is a good day to wonder about bats. After all it is October AKA Halloween month and bats are on the spooky animal list with black cats, spiders, ravens, and crows. But I believe that they are possibly the most maligned and misunderstood animals on the list. People equate them with not only the possibility of one getting caught in their hair but also with vampires and rabies. For those readers who harbor these fears let me assure you that these little brown bats have no desire to nest in your hair, suck your blood, or even come into contact with anything that has to do with you (except possibly a warm attic or barn loft). So maybe the worst thing you’ll have to deal with is some guano or a confused one flying around your house. But today’s sharing isn’t a lesson in bat behavior.

Let me better set the wonder inducing scene for you. I was not only in the barnyard doing chores but I was also speaking on the phone with one of my older brothers. That day would have been our Dad’s 86th birthday and we were commiserating about how much we missed him. My brother, who is in the midst of a home renovation, was telling me about all the old features of his house and how much our father would have loved them. He said that he would love to have Dad’s help with the remodel. And I’m sure if the old man was still on this earthly plane, he would happily be scraping paint and restoring hardwood floors. I told my brother about how our parents helped me with my first house, an quaint but antiquated stone craftsman. Dad sanded the floors while mom helped me repair window sashes. I’m glad my brother called me. I really enjoyed our conversation about old homes with old newspapers stuffed in the walls and sharing stories about Dad. He may not be here but he is certainly never forgotten. So, you see, my bat experience and conversation were happening at the same time. Somehow, that struck me as more than a coincidence.

Yup! I’m going to ponder the symbolism of the bat and how it pertains to my life at the this point in time. I am well aware that the symbolism of these winged mammals is dependent on individual beliefs. For example in biblical tradition, bats were believed to be messengers of Satan while the Chinese view the bat as a symbol of happiness. Personally I like the beliefs of various Native American tribes that considered bats symbols of diligence as well as death and rebirth. Now that’s the kind of stuff I like to focus on. After all, we should go through life experiencing the death of the parts of ourselves that no longer serve us. It is this death that makes way for the rebirth of an improved self.

Bat teaches us to face the darkness and find the light seen in rebirth. You must face your greatest fears and begin a new chapter in your life. Face your fears so that you may overcome emotional barriers that are holding you back from taking this physical or spiritual journey. As a shape shifter, he inspires transformation. It is time to follow those new ideas, hunches and emotions you may not be familiar with. Embrace the possibilities the universe has in store for you.

Bat serves as a reminder to let go of our ego so that we may pursue our spiritual growth, and renew thoughts and beliefs on a regular basis. He helps us with inner work, loving our enemy in the way you love yourself and nurturing personal growth in all of its forms. Bat brings gifts of insight, renewal and increased perceptive skills. Trust your intuition and instincts. He will help you discern the hidden meanings in the words of others. You will be able to hear what is not being said.

Now isn’t that beautiful? I can’t help but see the significance of it all. I don’t think there is a single person alive who can’t make room for improvement whether it is ending old destructive habits and replacing them with new life affirming ones or simply adding a salad to their daily diet. There are so many actions, big or small, we can take to make our lives better. My brother sets an example for anyone who thinks that it is too late to make a change. After decades of struggling with alcoholism and its related health conditions he is working hard to stay sober by changing both his actions and attitude. Now several months sober, he has the motivation and energy to turn his house from a mere dwelling into a home that will fill him with pride. No wonder he wishes Dad was here to help him. I can just imagine him with his beautiful crooked smile plastered across his face as he did what he did best - fix things. I really hope my brother continues writing this new chapter of his life and recognizes that he is deserving of both the healthy body and peaceful mind that will result from his hard work.

Hard work, or rather the discomfort that comes from it, is usually what deters many us from making necessary changes. It’s so much easier to stay within the comfort of our routines even if those routines don’t serve us. I don’t care what it is you are trying to accomplish if it is not familiar to you it will be difficult. If you decide to get in better shape then adhering to an exercise routine will be your challenge. If you are trying to set boundaries with loved ones then saying NO might cause you to panic. If you want to get more sleep at night then the act of leaving your cellphone in another room might stress you out. Even trying to learn a new skill can be anxiety inducing. I can recall when I first learned how to sew. I found the whole experience intimidating and wanted to resist using my machine. Then, miraculously, a few months later I was sewing clothes. So, I can’t even imagine how exasperating it is to try to give up a substance that your body craves or to decide to leave a dysfunctional long term relationship. But I’m positive that anyone who has put in the hard work and has come out on the other side will tell you that it is worth the temporary discomfort. You just have to face the darkness so you can come out into the light. That is the beauty of being human; recognizing that you can always become a better version of yourself and supporting others while they do the same.

Wow! That wasn’t what I was expecting but it is where my wondering mind took me. I’m glad I made the time to explore that mental nudge. I started this wondering complaining about a debate between two men who have one goal in common and two very different ideas about what they will do if they achieve it. As I was listening to them speak I heard a lot of accusations, interruptions, double talk, half truths, and insults. I certainly did not hear an intelligent exchange of views. I thought to myself, “What is wrong with these two old bats?” but I will never insult a bat like that ever again. No, if these two men actually embodied any of the qualities that the bat represents then those 90 minutes would have yielded a better outcome. We would have learned about their values, fears, hopes, and plans. We would have seen two people who we should respect show respect to each other and their moderator. Unfortunately, we can’t change the behaviors of grown men and they probably don’t want to change anyway. However, as I sit here well past midnight, I am certain that we can be responsible for our own growth and transformation. We can become the change that we would like to see in this world. We can transform ourselves into the compassionate, intelligent, nurturing people that this country deserves. It won’t be easy. It won’t happen quickly. We will collectively experience awkward growing pains. Each of us will definitely make the journey at our pace but if we are progressing then we are on the right path. We don’t have to be perfect. We just need to do better.