Recently, a friend of mine gave a motivational speech in which she compared what bison (American Buffalo) do and what cattle do when they sense a storm approaching. She explained that when skies darken and thunder rolls, cattle run away from the stormfront. Sadly, they don’t run very fast. Thus, they end up running with the storm and remain within the torrent for a longer period of time, risking injury, separation from their herd, exhaustion and greater susceptibility to predators.
In contrast, bison wait for the storm to approach and then turn and charge directly into the storm. Instead of running away from the storm, they run at the it and end up running straight through it. Their actions minimize their exposure to the storm and any distress it might inflict.
Each of us encounters storms in our lives, and right now our world feels exceptionally tumultuous.
My friend’s presentation led me to ponder my reaction to the inevitable challenges and those crazy surprises that appear without warning. Do I run along with a difficult circumstance by rationalizing, procrastinating or avoiding, inevitably prolonging it? Or am I brave enough to face life’s crises by running toward them with solutions, by making difficult decisions, or by having those necessary, challenging conversations, even though I might feel uncomfortable?
Regardless of whether you’re a run straight through it, hide and avoid it, or keep pace with it type of person, libraries can be a valuable buttress during life’s storms. Library staff members strive to create welcoming, accepting spaces open to all who wish to come. Our ideal is that everyone feels safe: safe to ask questions, safe to seek knowledge, safe to pursue interests. We also hope you will feel comfortable at the library – comfortable knowing you can find adequate answers through helpful and accurate resources, comfortable as you learn digital media and technology skills, and comfortable as you explore different points of view and perspectives.
To ensure access for all, tax-funded public libraries offer free services and programs. Public libraries are centers for literacy, lifelong learning, discovery and connection where intellectual curiosity and intrinsically motivated inquiry are encouraged.
While I wish I could choose how and when I encounter storms, I realize that is not the case for anyone. Whether your horizon looks calm and peaceful or the wind and dark are rising, we invite you to join us at your local library.
Rebecca Benally is director of Southwest La Plata Library District.
