Push ups and ferrets

The night I made the phone call to start the re-assessment ball rolling, I had a strange little dream.  In my dream, I was doing push ups.  Now, through my martial arts career, I have done quite a few push ups, and am quite familiar with proper form and technique, and variations.  Yet in my dream, no matter what I did, and how well I thought I was doing, there was a voice telling me that I wasn't doing it right, wasn't good enough, and had to do better, that all my effort wasn't counting.
In the dream, once I started to get really frustrated, and felt like giving up, there was a black footed ferret who came and just snuggled into my side in a very reassuring manner, telling me everything was going to be OK.  He was a quite content, happy, and over all comforting little friend.
So of course, when I had the chance, I got on the internet and googled the symbolism of ferrets.  I found the best explanation over at ShamanicJourney.com .  A few excerpts for you:

Ferret, Power Animal, Symbol of Keen Observation

By Ina Woolcott

Ferrets are members of the weasel family. Their medicine includes stealth, cunning, skillful hunters, cleverness, ingenuity, revenge, keen observation, ability to see hidden reasons behind things.

... Brainy and cunning the ferret shows us how to use our creativeness to build a safe haven for ourselves, and to stock up with things that may be needed - always be ready for any situation that may come into existence. The ferret is a good, helping ally to have around in hard time.

...When ferrets become scared or excited, their tail goes all bushy and they let out a musty scent, which assists in getting rid of some predators - however they do not feel safe until hidden deep inside their tunnel. For humans this represents the need for a securer life. If this is your power animal then you will need a special place where you can rejuvenate and also to contemplate.

Ferrets are extremely nimble and quick, teaching us how to manoeuvre super quick so as not be in danger.

If this is your power animal do you need to move with more speed in some area(s) of your life? Are you wearing blinkers due to inflexible thought patterns that don’t let you see the bigger picture? Do you have a secluded, secure place for yourself? Do you get in your own way with your power of observation?

The ferret is a powerful totem, and can aid you to uncover a hidden part of yourself, deep beneath the surface are the answers to life's mysteries. If you are finding it hard to comprehend something in your life, meditate on the ferret and listen to and follow what you are told if you so wish.

I am not going to second guess where this came from, try to analyze it too much, or joke it away.  Wherever it came from, the ferret in my dream has brought me a message, a perspective, and a path.  I will try to honour that, find comfort in it, and keep my new friend around for a while.
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Do ferrets hibernate?  Maybe we could nap, and wake up when this is all better ...