One of the things I absolutely love about living in a log cabin is that I get to see a lot of wildlife up close. While rabbits are plentiful in the summer I was surprised by the appearance of a snowshoe hare with its whitish fur coat. After three winters, why was this the first time I had seen one?

I noticed the whitish bunny hop by while I was sitting at my desk which is in front of large sliding glass doors leading out to a deck. Actually, I was in the middle of a phone conversation with one of my mentors and at the exact moment the hare appeared we had just started talking about fear. My curiosity was roused, did Mr. Rabbit have something to say about this?

After the call I began to review the various meanings rabbits held. In general rabbits have symbolized; fear, reproduction, abundance, fertility, humility, quick-thinking, rebirth, releasing of fears, luck. Rabbit meanings have also been closely linked to the seasons, the changes of Mother Earth, and specifically Springtime.

Even though there is still over a meter of snow on the ground, according to the calendar it is Spring. And yes, the animals are starting to become more visible and frisky. But for me, the hare was more than just an obvious sign of spring. I needed to ponder this a little more.

The rabbit moves quickly and must take every opportunity it has to survive. I thought about whether I have been letting rare and meaningful opportunities pass me by. Are my fears holding me back from continuing on my path? Maybe I am stuck hidden in the brush, observing the world from a safe distance. Is rabbit nudging me to face my fears, encouraging me to continue to grow and succeed?

My deep self reflection was broken with a memory that rabbits are also all about hopping and jumping. As a child I loved to watch them playfully boing around in the long grass. This reminded me that facing our fears and moving forward wasn’t just about intensity and hard work but about being playful and feeling joy as well.

Wow… what a great gift Mother Nature sent and just at the right time. A little snowshoe hare made me stop and think about life, fear, moving forward and having fun!

Happy Spring!