I was watching some videos about animal life on Youtube with my daughter. And through one video I got a very new information regarding the power of hibernation. 

We all know that many of us feel sleepy in the winter. But other species like bears often take it a step further and hibernate.

When I came to know about hibernation, I really wonder why humans don’t hibernate. 

What is Hibernation in animals?

For most of the animals, it’s really difficult to find enough food in winter. Because during the season, the main source of food like insects or green plants is in short supply. So, some animals solve this problem by hibernating.

Hibernation is a deep sleep that helps them to save energy and survive the winter without eating much. 

During hibernation the animal’s body temperature drops, and its heartbeat and its breathing slow down so that it does not use much energy.

Some hibernators go into such a deep sleep that it is almost impossible to wake them, and they appear to be dead.

Isn’t it funny? Seems a total withdrawal from life. 

But Durva asked me a doubt, “how do they survive as they don’t eat, don’t urinate or so?”

We searched on the internet about this. It’s because they use their body fat as a resource to supply them with energy. 

It was a lovely information. I always feel that Nature is a great source of wisdom if you really care to observe or learn. And we really need to reconnect with nature.

Can humans hibernate?

Anyways, I was lost in my thoughts after knowing all those things. What would happen if we had to hibernate.

I mean,  not like animals to avoid the cold. Hibernation is an extended period of energy-saving. Right ?

So,in a human way, what would happen if we were to hibernate when the situation, your life or your relationship turned hostile? 

Or if you were not equipped to survive it? Or if you face humiliation ?

It would be better to hibernate right? To withdraw from the scene and to draw energy from your inner strength.

You need to go to your den for a while, restore that lost energy and confidence or repair your self-esteem and survive that hostility and arise again with pride. Isn’t it?

The power of hibernation

I was jobless during the year 2006. Let me tell you one fact which I faced during those days.

The fear of being an engineer and sitting at home is the thing which can rank second after ‘fear of death’. Seriously !! 

People had so many questions to ask me.

Why was I at home?

Then , Why did I make the stupidity to leave the earlier government job ?

And, Why can’t I get married?

Why can’t I get a new job in a city like Mumbai?

Or, Why didn’t I read the newspaper?

Left – right – up -down….

Oh GOD ! I can never forget those days. The humiliation was unbearable.  But I continued to do what I had to. I was preparing for an entrance exam for one course of my choice. 

One day, in a public event , one aunt fired a lot of questions to me regarding my joblessness in front of a group. 

“How can an educated girl like you stay at home and be a burden to parents?” were her words. I don’t remember crying that much ever again in my life.  

The humiliation was beyond recover. I remember the bitter tone of her voice, the criticism I can’t forget. And…Oh god, I remember everything. I remember it all. 

After a month, I cleared my entrance and took admission to the course. I worked hard. 12 hours a day practicing in a computer lab. Then again after returning home I used to read the text books and make notes. I was so determined that I literally read the books till my eyes hurt. 

It was a hibernation period for me. I was recollecting the energy to build my career. 

No one except my classmates or teachers saw me during my course. I had mastered programming and collected a lot of information about my subject.

Very soon I would be reaching my destination. I remembered the story by my professor “Just matter of 1“, and I kept going.

And the biggest event of life occurred during the placement fest. I was the first one from my class to get placed. I called my mother with pride to tell the news. And I cried. A lot. 

And at that moment, tears traveled from both the lines. I heard her tears too. 

The power of hibernation supplied me enough courage and confidence to face people. 

What I think is, running away from the situation is what animals do in hibernation. As a human, we have to prepare ourselves, repair the lost confidence, collect information and with a positive self talk work hard. 

Hibernation will help you to survive in any stormy situation. Seriously.

Just like bears or computers, turn on your Hibernate mode for some time and arise again. 

Conclusion :

The power of hibernation, in human way, is in preparing, repairing, recollecting and restarting your life.