“Learn to sit back and observe, not everything needs a reaction.” – unknown
This past weekend we went to the zoo. Near the end of our time there, we were at the exhibit for the Asian Small-Clawed Otters. A keeper arrived with two small brown paper bags and threw one to each otter.
We were standing at the glass wall of the exhibit and there was a group of three adults next to us – two men and a woman in their thirties. Nine-year-old Miss O had commented on the group about five minutes earlier. She’d said, “Those people are either drunk or really happy.” Until she mentioned that I hadn’t been paying attention to them, even though their pace through this section matched ours. She was right that they were loud.
Our zoo does a pretty good job with creating natural exhibits and designing ways for the animals to have to find their food. As we stood to watch the otters try to open the bags, the group of three narrated the actions in a way that was intended to be funny.
“Oh, this one hasn’t even gotten the bag open and that one has been munching for like five minutes.”
“This one must be stupid. It can’t get into a paper bag.”
“Oh no, don’t let it roll into the water!”
“Now the smart one is coming over to finish off the dumb one’s snack.”
“Oops, it’s all pouring into the water now.”
I struggled to just watch the scene without paying attention to the people next to me. It was hard – they were loud and I was tired. We’d navigated almost four miles of walking through the zoo on a pretty busy day and the effort to keep the group together had made me peckish.
Even through my hungry haze, I wondered how much my other experiences are influenced by commentary. On one hand, it’s nice to hear what people more experienced on a subject think. On the other hand, not all commentary comes from reliable sources. I wrestle with taking in what’s going on and coloring in my own experience before being influenced by other’s perspectives.
Like in this case, I think that the slower one was taking its time to savor each treat.
Just like with the otters, may we all find the healthy things to chew on.
(photos are mine of Asian Small-clawed Otters at the Woodland Park Zoo)
You can find me on Instagram @wynneleon and LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/wynneleon/
I co-host a storytelling podcast featuring authors and artists with the amazing Vicki Atkinson. To tune in, search for Sharing the Heart of the Matter on Spotify, Apple, Amazon Music or Pocketcasts (and subscribe) or click here. Or the YouTube channel features videos of our interviews. Please subscribe!
My other projects include work as a CEO (Chief Encouragement Officer), speaking about creativity and AI through the Chicago Writer’s Association, and my book about my journey to find what fueled my dad’s indelible spark and twinkle can be found on Amazon: Finding My Father’s Faith.
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