GET UP!

I read this story yesterday and it was pretty amazing. If motivation and inspiration is what you are looking for, then you will find it, no matter where you look. One of the best lessons that we will ever need to learn to succeed in life, business or even just to survive can be learned from the life of a Giraffe. I read that Giraffes give birth to their young standing up, so at birth the baby giraffe begins its life by dropping 10 feet or so from its mothers womb. Instinctively,within seconds of the baby giraffes life the baby giraffe tries its hardest to get up and stand on its own feet. While it is still covered in birthing fluid, barely able to see, because there is birthing fluid still in its eyes and ears, it tries to stand on its own. Amazing feat right? Just seconds old and it is so ambitious! After the baby stands on its own feet, the mother isn't so impressed. The mother giraffe doesn't go around bragging about how great and amazing her child is, in fact the mother does quite the opposite. As soon as that baby giraffe makes it onto its feet, the mother harshly introduces it to the harsh reality of life, and teaches the baby the first rule of life that it will need to know in order to survive

Once the baby makes it on to their feet, the mother stands over the newborn calf and after a minute or so, it kicks the baby down to the ground. The baby is disoriented from the whole, just being born thing and from being kicked down by a full grown giraffe. So, once its kicked down the baby is very slow to get back up. but when it doesn't get back up as quickly as the mother sees fit, the mother will go and kick it again to stimulate its effort. She gives it some time, the baby struggles to make it back to its feet and once it does, the mother still doesn't celebrate, she goes and kicks it back down again. The baby giraffe is forced to struggle to get back on its feet once again

Now, one could make the case that giraffes are extremely cruel and unusual animals. How can you do this to your own offspring. What kind of love is this?  Well, as it turns out, its the best kind of love and protection she could give to her child. See, the adult giraffe already knows that there are Lions, Hyenas and stuff that enjoy eating baby giraffe, and in the wild safety is in numbers. The mother knows that if that baby is to survive it is going to have to stay with the pack. So that baby giraffe is going to need to learn how to get back up as quickly as possible after it falls and keep running to stay with the herd to avoid being eaten. So, IMMEDIATELY AFTER BIRTH, THE MOTHER KICKS THE BABY DOWN OVER AND OVER AGAIN, NOT TO BE CRUEL, BUT SO THAT THE BABY WILL GET IN ITS HEAD AND REMEMBER HOW TO GET BACK UP! If the mother didn't teach its baby how to get back up and keep running, then its easy prey for the lions and hyenas.

So, then I started thinking, about the adversities we face on a day to day basis. What if the tragedies and obstacles we face on a day to day basis, those times we got kicked down in life What if maybe they aren't really bad things? What if instead of viewing them as mishaps or misfortunes, what if we simply viewed them as lessons. I mean, the harsh reality of our lives is that WE WILL ALL GET KNOCKED DOWN. Make no mistake about it. But, Those who survive and thrive in life aren't the ones who don't get knocked down. The successful, and those who thrive in life are the ones who learn and remember how to get back up.

I guess what m' saying is that when life throws you your next obstacle, your next adversity, your next challenge, don't lay there and think life isn't fair or lay there and try to figure out why you. Its not just you! There will be others on the ground too. When you think of laying there and wallowing in self pity just remember that the lions and the hyenas are gaining on you. The longer you lay there, the less chance of survival you have. Falling is a part of life/survival, IT WILL HAPPEN!

So, don't worry about falling, don't worry about getting knocked down. ALL YOU NEED TO REMEMBER IS HOW TO GET BACK UP!

Our dreams are far too important, to just lay there and give up on! GET BACK UP!

"If you ain't  never been down, how you gon get on up?
-James Brown

PEACE!