Slowing It Down - Wisdom From The Whales
Take it slow, don’t have many kids and enjoy cold water. All advice for living longer from the Bowhead whale? I was reading an article in the New York Times about the discovery of a bomb lance fragment embedded in the blubber of a Bowhead whale that was harpooned in Alaska this year. A bomb lance is a harpoon that was manufactured for a short time in the 1800s. The whale had carried the harpoon for 115 years.
Very impressive. A 115 plus year-old whale? Knowing that Americans are totally obsessed with slowing down the aging process, I’m guessing that scientists will be clamoring for clues. As I continued to read the article, I discovered that these whales do have something valuable to share: Bowhead whales are afforded the opportunity to slow down the evolution of life.
They live in a low-risk habitat–unlike an ant that might get eaten or stepped on any second–so they can slow down and use their energy to grow bigger and stronger. They have less offspring. They take better care of themselves. They live in a cold water environment which bodes well for longevity. With other animals preferring warmer water, there is less competition for food. There’s no doubt that scientists will take a closer look, but will they learn something we don’t already know?
The modern day predators of “got to have it all” and “got to have it yesterday” make it tough to put life in slow gear, but I still say it’s possible. It’s what I love so much about the power of choice. On any given day, unlike the Bowhead whale, we can make intentional choices that allow us to have a higher quality of life. We can choose to slow down.
We can choose to eat better, exercise and practice self-care. We can choose an environment that is conducive to living our best life. Slowing down the evolution of life starts with making choices. As a life coach, a very simple and curious question that pops up is what’s holding us back? Most of life on Earth has an excuse; a much smaller brain and a set of priorities dictated by the fight for food and mates. What is our excuse?
Terri Holley, MS is a professionally trained Life Coach, trainer, speaker, and wellness expert. She supports people in honoring their deepest commitments to health, fitness and wellness. Her contribution to the world evolves around creating extraordinary healthy, fulfilling and balanced lives-one person at a time. She is the owner and founder of Momentum Health and Life Coaching, LLC. Visit her website and blog at http://www.mhlcoaching.com
Tags: life balance, stress management