I had a chance to visit a wildlife rescue sanctuary recently. There was a tortoise that was surrendered because of his large size. I was told that the tortoise would walk around freely in a certain area and if there were anyone in the tortoise’s path it would barrel through and just keep going. There were many other animals at this sanctuary, mountain lions, wolves, bears, and more. However, this tortoise was one of the animals that stood out.
The tortoise was nowhere near a bear or a mountain lion and yet it still had a strong presence. He had the respect of patrons to move out of the way when it was getting around the grounds but also had enough respect from me and the other people there to revere in his company. No one blocked his way nor was he looked at any less than the other animals there; no matter how slow he moved.
Which brings up a thought of subtle impact. This tortoise was slow yet that was not a shortcoming. He was large yet was not to be feared. Like himself, he was slow and steady not just in speed and stature but in reputation. The caretakers knew how strong, smart, and independent he was without him saying a word. It was by experiencing his personality and lifestyle that they were able to recognize and even adapt to him. This begs the question, do we always have to be fast and unpredictable to stand out? Or can slow and steady ultimately win the rat race of life?
Melodie Anne 