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Sometimes You're the Monkey and Sometimes You're the Dog
Or why sometimes we get more when we give and sometimes receiving is hard
Posted August 22, 2015
We all know that the purpose of Facebook is to post and/or/also watch cute/inspiring/possibly photoshopped videos of puppies or cats. Or dolphins. The one I’m about to talk about is probably all of the above. Excluding the dolphins.
It shows a dog carrying a monkey on its back. The dog is allegedly rescuing the monkey. It doesn’t appear that velcro was used in the making of this video so I’m just going to accept it at face(book) value. Yes, I truly believe that there exists in the world at this very moment a dog befriending a monkey.
Why do I believe this? Besides the fact that there is video evidence to back me up? Because, of course, I want to.
I want to believe in, I want to live in a world where dogs befriend monkeys, where kindness is hardwired into our character, not self interest. Not just self interest. I love watching videos of animals helping other animals regardless of breed. I like the idea that this is not in fact a dog eat dog world. It's a dog help monkey world.
I'm not sure what Darwin would make of all this, but to me it's a radically different take on natural selection and survival of the fittest. What makes us fit, what helps us survive, and even thrive is Love of course, unconditional love. The dog wasn't getting a whole lot out of his/her monkey rescuing act. Unless dogs are capable of feeling good when acting unselfishly. Maybe they are.
But it isn't just about being the dog, the helper, in this scenario. It is also good to be the helped, to let ourselves be the monkey. It is hard for some of us to accept the help of others. And yes for some it is far too easy. But that's another topic for another time.
(Youtu.be)
So today (and why not every day) look for opportunities to carry someone on your back. Metaphorically at least. The monkey on your back could be a friend,a stranger, a family member. And yes you might end up getting hooked on helping others but that's ok. Just remember to let yourself be the monkey too. Let others carry you if and when they offer to.
