Life Lessons I Learned from My Elephant

When my friend asked me to go to a place called Elephantstay in Thailand, I thought it would be fun to get away, interact with elephants and get some great photos.  What I didn’t realize was the profound impact this trip would have on me.  If you had told me that a giant elephant was going to teach me amazing life lessons, I would never have believed it.

Upon our arrival, we were given a safety talk and then right out to start feeding and watering the elephants.  The first thing I thought was wow they are big and powerful and a little bit scary.   I kept thinking, they must be crazy if they think I am going to climb on the back of this beast.  Of course, like many animals, the elephants are food motivated and as soon as I gave Rasamee (“my elephant”) food and water, she started to bond with me.  Lesson Number One-Don’t make judgments about others.  We often look at someone or watch the way they act and immediately make assumptions. Quite often, those assumptions are wrong.  In life, we need to take the time to get to know the person and not make assumptions.

With the thought of the first ride coming up, I had been going through the morning telling myself that the ride would be scary.  The more I told myself this, the more frightened I became.  My negative self-talk was at an all time high. People don’t fall off elephants here but I had convinced myself that I would be the first person ever to fall off the elephant there.  By the time I got on Rasamee, I was almost panicked.  I was holding on for dear life and couldn’t relax even though the Mahout and our leader kept telling me that the ride would be so much more enjoyable if I did.  Lesson Number Two-Negative self talk can get in the way of enjoying life.  When you relax, the ride is far more enjoyable.   The Mahout had a very tight hold on me and any time that I felt even the least bit unsteady, Rasamee held on to me with her huge ears.  It was in no one’s best interest (including Rasamee) to have me fall. By day three, I finally realized that I wasn’t going to fall and it was at that point that I relaxed and did enjoy the ride.  Had I stopped my negative self talk on Day One, the whole experience would have been far more pleasurable.  I realize I do that quite often in life; hold on too tight and use negative self talk which makes the ride far less enjoyable.

My friend had been to Elephanstay several times before and there was a beautiful spot where she wanted to go to get a picture taken.  It was down a hill and when asked I said I wasn’t ready to go there.  I nicknamed the spot, the “scary spot” and I planned to avoid it at all costs.  Rasamee had other ideas in mind.  She saw my friend and her elephant and she thought, I’ll go join them.  Down she went into the “scary spot”.  I was terrified!!!  I think I even cried a little.  Although I was scared, I DID IT and what was crazier was that I wanted to do it again.  I was the one psyching myself out.  I was perfectly safe and there was no reason for me to be afraid of the “scary spot”.  Lesson Number Three-Approach things with a “can” rather than a “can’t” mindset.   Saying “I can” rather than “I can’t” changes the way you react to things in life and the “scary spot” can actually be quite pleasant.

There were so many more lessons I learned but these three were my top ones:

• Don’t make judgments about others
• Negative self talk can get in the way of enjoying life. When you relax the ride is far more enjoyable.
• Approach things from a “can” rather than “can’t” mindset.

This was such a great experience (and I did get some great photos).  I learned so much when I was there and definitely plan on going back. Who knew that a beautiful elephant could be such a great teacher.