Slowly but surely, I’ve been working my way through the BBC’s Planet Earth series. I tend to watch an episode while I’m on my NordicTrack elliptical cross trainer. Although it may be dreary winter outside, I can spend an hour getting my heart rate up in the jungle or on the great plains or in caves or shallow seas. Even the Arctic—though it doesn’t psychologically warm me—feels more scenic than the now–soot-ridden snow along our roadside.
One thing I love about this series is all the types of animals filmed—animals I will likely never see in my lifetime, and ones I should never see if their habitat is to have any chance of survival. Most animals have bodies that are incredibly different from mine. The way bodies have evolved to succeed in their environments fascinates me.
At its heart, of course, this series is a brutal record of who-eats-whom.
Watching Planet Earth reminds me of how alike all we animated beings are, as everything for all of us is based on three things: food, territory, and sex. When push comes to shove (and it will), this is all any of us cares about. If we claim to care about other things, it’s only because somehow these three have sorted themselves out—and likely any of those “other things” we care about has roots in one of these three.
In other words, I know that I’m an animal. And I know that you are, too.
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9 comments:
Since I don't know how to spell an animal growl of agreement, I'll simply say fabulous!
I haven't sorted out those 3 things yet, so fortunately I don't have to think about other things such as cross-training.
well you've got food sorted......I of course am a lofty Platonic essence so get off my land while I shag this sandwich..... but seriously, my body has evolved to succeed in my environment: that's why I hate camping,
M: I'll insert grrrrrishness here.
H: Lucky you. Of course, my elliptical cross trainer has everything to do with those three things, especially the first.
Mrs. S: Ah, food, food, and of course I will give you appropriate space to shag the sandwich. I won't cross any oceans til you're finished. (Most excellent point about the camping, m'am...)
"I ain't no monkey but I know what I like."
What a lovely post.
My vegetarian daughter is always reminding me that I am an animal and have no business eating other animals.
I am not an animal, I am a tree, man.
Can I be a mineral? Maybe a beautiful sexy aging emerald?
So Indigo, where are you migrating to now?
I missed this post last time I came over here. Yes, I am an animal. Guilty as charged:)
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