World Elephant Day - August 12th

Wonder and humility are wholesome emotions, and they do not exist side by side with a lust for destruction – Rachel Carson

©kathykarn

Apologies to readers who tried to comment last week and were told “only paid subscribers” could post. This was an error on my part. I forgot to click anyone can comment in the Substack menu prior to publishing. My work has always been free to followers and subscribers and will continue to be so. Your comments matter to me, and I am grateful for your feedback. Thanks to direct emails I learned about my mistake, hopefully it is corrected in this issue.

Substack’s set up for subscriptions helped me realize readers who would like to support my work with a paid subscription could help with the growing annual cost of producing this newsletter. The door is open to both options, all are welcome.

Now to this week’s story. Tuesday August 12th was World Elephant Day. Elephants inspired my commitment to weekly visual storytelling that celebrates wildlife, the need to protect wild habitat, and the people that co-exist with them. I never tire watching and learning from elephants. I maintain that if we lived the way elephant society lives the world would be a more peaceful and healthier place.

©kathykarn

Valuable life lessons I’ve witnessed in elephant society in 2 parts. (Part 2 next week).

 Part 1: Stay open, stay curious. Curiosity is a sign of open-mindedness and an antidote to judgment and criticism. When we are curious there is room for innovation and creativity.

A young calf is fascinated by a group of egrets ©kathykarn

It takes a village to raise a child. Caring relationships in community teach compassion and empathy. A secure attachment in childhood is the best predictor of resilience and recovery from trauma later in life.

Baby elephants are never alone. Nannies, siblings and cousins help raise a calf ©kathykarn

Play. Joyful experimentation encourages creativity. It fuels the imagination and reduces stress.

Baby elephants are as playful as a pack of puppies ©kathykarn

Be Patient. Patience increases tolerance and empathy It facilitates calm, which in turn cultivates a sense of safety and trust. These conditions are optimal for learning and development.

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