Lessons from Animals

Carl and I have some greeting cards that we bought on a trip somewhere. They have messages like, “Lessons from a Bear” and “Lessons from a Turtle,” and then each one has a list of real-life lessons that relate to the particular animal. The polar bear, for example, advises us to “live large” and “have some good icebreakers,” while the penguin suggests that we “dive into life” and “stand together.”

The cards are clever but realistic. These really are good lessons for us. It got me to thinking about what other lessons we might take from animals, especially for this time of pandemic.

Our best friends (mine, anyway), dogs, have lots of good lessons for us now:
     Play lots of games.
     Get exercise every day.
     Enjoy a treat now and then.
     Drink plenty of water.
    Take naps.

Annie  (Photo Credit: Michael Arellano)

Here are some others that come to mind:

Hummingbird: “Skip the sugary drinks and eat natural foods when you can.”
Butterfly: “Savor the flowers.”
Sloth: “Take time to rest.”
Garter Snake: “Don’t let people come too close to you.”
Whale: “Stay in touch, even when you’re distanced from each other.”
Jellyfish: “Be flexible.”
Elephant: “Take care of each other.”
Ant: “Persevere.”
Meerkat: “Hug your housemates.”
Deer: “Eat your veggies.”
Kitten: “Be playful.”
Cat: “S-t-r-e-t-c-h.”
Heron: “Stand in a pond or stream when you can.”
Bee: “Look for sweetness, and cooperate with those in your hive.”
Songbird: “Sing! Especially when you’re alone.”
      
(Photo Credit: Pat Crane)

What other lessons can we take from animals? Does your pet have something to teach you now? How about the animals you see in your yard, or on your walks?

Until tomorrow, be safe, be well, and enjoy the animals around us. They are good teachers, and if we pay attention, we might learn a lot.

Love,
Nancie/Mom/Mimi/Grandma


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