Life Is Grand...If You're An Elephant
Posted: Wednesday, October 20, 2010
by Heidi Cornelissen
Completely Human
I recently spent a week in the African bush re-experiencing things that I'd almost forgotten about. Bush safari experiences are special for me as I'm transported into a different world. A world where man is insignificant and nature rules.
This magic world, once again, showed me insights of which I'll share a few with you.
When out on a game drive you quickly realise that timing is everything but equally, that you have no control over it. Seeing something spectacular is all about being at the right place at the right time which could be called coincidence or rather, divine timing. Seeing a hippo out of water crossing the road could be because you travelled at 40km/h instead of the car ahead of you which went at 50km/h. He missed the sighting and you're able to enjoy the special moment.
The same applies to choosing which road to use. You don't know ahead of time where the lion is about to hunt the impala. Every encounter is a chance happening because the bush is large and the animals scattered everywhere. You have no control over the outcome and every moment that you share with nature starts to feel miraculous.
Life presents the same. There are no guaranteed results along a particular road you take. But if you don't take any path, you're guaranteed to experience nothing at all. Choose a road and set off along it. Miraculous opportunities will open up for you. At the very least.
2. Perspective changes your reality
We spent some time in Cape Town before heading to the bush, and our bedroom window had a view of Robben Island (where Nelson Mandela was held). It was a long, elongated island. But later, I also had the opportunity of seeing it at sunset from Signal Hill where it morphed into something tiny and round. If I hadn't known better, I'd have said it was a completely different island!
Another day, during our bush experience, we got caught up in a group of people watching 3 male lions on a rocky outcrop. Wanting to break free from this crowd, we headed a bit further down the road. And were so glad we did! Two lionesses were on the hunt and brought down an Impala (antelope). Being free of the crowd, on a different section of road we were fortunate to see this close- up.
By changing our perspective, we saw this spectacular event. Those parked at an angle, watching the males alone missed the excitement!
Different decisions can be made with a new perspective. How often have you been fixated on something believing it to be right'? Because you've seen' it and experienced something in a certain way, you believe it must be so.
What would happen if you could see the situation through a new set of eyes? From a different angle?
3. Life is in Constant Motion
The bush is never still. Something is always on the move, alert, making a noise, hiding away, chasing- or eating something. Even on the night drives you hear, see, feel and smell the animals going about their business. With both diurnal and nocturnal animals the energy of the bush feels vibrant. All elements of nature seem to be fully engaged with what's happening around them.
Atoms are the basis of everything and are held together by energy levels. Therefore everything is constantly vibrating, moving, changing and moving forward. This is part and parcel of our existence.
It's therefore your choice to move forward through growth, development and stimulation. Engage with external forces, namely people, places and things. As the world is continually moving, it naturally means that if you're not you are left behind as the world moves past you.
By allowing fear or procrastination to hold you back from something, by default you're giving into the other alternative. Remember that doing nothing is inherently also making a decision.
4. Trying too hard limits you
The idea behind animal-spotting is to pan the bush with your eyes as widely as possible. You look for the tell-tale signs that animals are hidden somewhere in the vast expanse before you.
I'm by no means an accomplished spotter' and often miss things. I tend to focus on an area intellectually with "this looks like leopard area I must spot a leopard here wouldn't it be nice to see a leopard in a tree here ok, doesn't have to be in a tree, on the ground would be good. Or even chasing down an impala! Now wouldn't that be awesome!"
By this time I've run through this self-talk, we're a couple of kilometres down the road already, and I've missed it all. I'm so busy concentrating on an area and even re-scanning it to make sure there was no movement, that I don't see the fuller picture. I concentrate on keeping my eyes far out on the horizon to potentially see what could be out there'.
Doing this one day, I (shockingly) missed a juvenile leopard in full view! The beautiful animal lay next to the road no more than a metre away from the car. Luckily, my husband, (from the other side of the vehicle) spotted him!
Being so involved with the noises in my head and doggedly focussed on a single area, I didn't see what was right in front of my nose (literally).
Although often taught to create visions and set BHAGs (Big, hairy, audacious goals) I find clients become overwhelmed by this. The next, often simple step then escapes them. If you're continually looking far out the wind and focussing exclusively on the big picture, a great opportunity may pass you by.
Fear holds you attached to a certain way of looking at things. Facing your fear will open you up to look at things more widely. Through continued raised awareness, many things will come along your path that you will indeed notice and be grateful for.
5. Life is Grand if you're an Elephant. They live life deliberately. They're fearless, perseverant, slow to agitate, robust, intentional and observant all the while moving through things quickly. They're noticeable; they're self-assured, curious and nurturing in cohesive units. They're playful, trusting, bold and continuously plodding forward.
Which parts can you put into practice to create an equally grand life?
Civilisation no longer needs to open up wilderness; it needs wilderness to help open up the still largely unexplored human mind.
David Rains Wallace
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Top-level comments on this article: (5 total)The bush is the most awesome place in the world for me. I'm glad you had a wonderful time.It is. It was wonderful to be back again. There's nothing quite like it!
I've never had the opportunity to visit the wilds of Africa, sounds exiting
Heidi Cornelissen, good article about natural life in the African forest. Thank you for sharing.
I got oppotunity to study the natural world of lions and find it is more civilized and caring animals than many of humans.
The Gir Wildlife Sanctuary in India is the largest protected natural abode for the Asian lions in the world. I stayed there, because sometimes, to study the nature of the lions. I was surprised to find that that Lions are more civilized and more care to the rights of animal life that civilized man to date.
lion does not harm the animal, he can not hunt. lion does not hunt animals, he can not eat. Lions do not waste the meat of animals, where they hunt. Lions do not scare the animals. Once he decides to stop the hunt or failure in the hunt, he scored his temporary retirement from the game by lifting the tail. Amaging is the animal world.
Africa sounds like it would be a great place to go just to see the beauty of the animals. Thank you for sharing your trip with us in such wonderful detail. I felt like I was right there.
Hi Heidi.
This just proves what I've always known ... life's lessons are all around us all the time.
Obviously, you took more away from your trip that just some fun sightings of animals. We readers are the better for it. Thank you so much for you thoughts and insights.
Hugs,
Dianne
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