Be Like a Spider and Rebuild, Persevere, and Move On

Life lessons learned from walking into spiderwebs.

Spiderweb covered in dew. | Graphic made with Canva.

Hi there!

We should rename fall, “Spider Web Season.” Here’s why.

Every evening, right before dinner, I take my mom’s dog for a walk. A chihuahua mixed with 50 other breeds, Peanut loves his afternoon walk. My mom says he starts whining two hours before I come to get him and often won’t go outside all day. They say dogs can’t anticipate the future, but I’m sure Peanut does.

Our evening walk is a leisurely walk around the boundaries of our property. While Peanut sniffs and marks everything in the yard, I let the stress of the day slip from my shoulders and shift into home mode. The walk is the perfect transition from work to rest.

The last few nights, our walks were less enjoyable.

No matter how hard I keep on the lookout, every night I walk face first into a spider web. Then I do the jerky dance of trying to jump backwards while pulling strands of spider silk from your face and hair. The dance leaves me tangled in Peanut’s leash.

Peanut waits patiently for me to stop jumping around and then returns to his business. Back home, I have an hour long fight with myself about whether there are bugs crawling on me.

I’m not a fan of Spider Web Season. Not even a little bit. But those little arachnids are full of positivity lessons. Let’s consider a few.

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“Fall seven times and stand up eight.”

- Japanese Proverb

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Scott Ninneman publishes two newsletters each week. The Sunday All Things Bipolar Newsletter (off Substack) features the newest content about bipolar life. The Speaking Bipolar Positivity Club Newsletter shares inspirational stories three times a week to help you maintain a positive mindset.

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My Peanut. | Image by author.

Rebuild 

One spider seems most determined. With a web spanning the 10 feet between two crepe myrtle bushes, the eight-legged foe rebuilds every day, no matter how many times I walk through its web.