Life Lessons from a Kenyan Elephant
As I write to you now, I am right by a water hole watching 23 elephants gently and slowly wallowing in the water, washing, cooling and drinking.
I am so inspired by the sight of these gentle giants, moving with graceful precision, taking their time, yet moving with focussed purpose.
Kenya moves with slow focussed purpose, still goal orientated but not time dependent. All will happen when it happens. And if you can’t find a way there is always someone who can help you. Nothing is too much trouble, too difficult or impossible.
“Everything is possible under the Kenya sun” says Lawrence (expedition leader) to me, as I question some of the seemingly impossible jobs I am tasked with.
This slow, purposeful pace of life and positive can-do attitude is a skill I try to always bring home with me. I know it often slips as I become rushed, distracted, overwhelmed and time dependent on UK soil, but all I have to do is close my eyes, breathe, feel the Kenya sun, feel the warm breeze and picture the elephants at the water hole.
“An old elephant, tusks almost to the ground and dusty red in colour lumbers towards the water, softly and gently placing each foot down. He slowly lowers one front leg, and then the other.
His giant baggy bottom now high in the air, tail whisking at flies, takes a long pause. He now slowly bends his back legs, so his whole backside is kneeling at the waters edge, as if it’s too much trouble to put his whole body in at once.
Again, another purposeful pause, his back legs still and wrinkled as if he’s forgotten to iron his trousers. A long moment passes before he pulls his back legs in behind him and he enters the water, barely disturbing the surface.
Pole pole, slowly slowly, he glides into the water to feel the cooling sensation on his skin.
He stands stationary, pausing, before taking a trunk full of water and creating a rainbow of spray to cover his back. The sensation must be quite exquisite in this extreme heat and dust. The sounds he makes are guttural, sounds of contentment and pleasure.”
If you can imagine for a moment this image I have painted for you or something similar, I am sure you too can find some quiet in your busy brain and a sense of peace.
This lesson from an elephant is more than just a nice image in your mind, it has the power to change your nervous system, slow your heart rate and breathing and lower your stress.
Cal Newport talks about “slow productivity” and this is a wonderful reminder about how you don’t need to be busy to be productive. Take your time, move with slow purpose, enjoy the process and be inspired by the baggy trousered Kenyan elephant
Remember “everything is possible” even if you’re not under the Kenyan sun. You can do it, just take your time.
Emma Wightman
www.the-sop.com