Caged In

Today was a glorious sunny day in SoCal, a day reminiscent of the middle of summer, even though it's the 5th of January. My Aunt and I spent this beautiful day at the LA Zoo, a dynamic and incredible habitat to some very interesting creatures from all over the world. But after walking around and looking at the sights for some time, it became apparent that the most intriguing of all animals to watch was in fact, the humans.

Despite the exotic animals, beautiful settings, and glorious weather, I couldn't help but notice the different species of humans that milled about in all of their unique glory.  There were obnoxious children, frantic parents, exhausted teachers, flirtatious teens, and the occasional lovestruck couples scattered about, all noticeably trying to avoid the other niches for being foreign to their comfort zones.

Yet, the moment that really struck me in this sensory overload of human trafficking, was the snapshot taken above.  Among a throng of anxious onlookers, these 3 chimpanzee's seemed to just exist and exude peace.  It was at this moment I started to wonder if we were the ones observing them or if in actuality, it were the other way around.  As noticeably framed above, the direct comparison of the 3 onlookers directly mirrors the position of the chimps.  The mother is lovingly cradling her child, while her older daughter sits intimately close nearby.  The most incredible aspect of the scene to me was how chaotic the world outside the gate was in comparison to the peace and tranquilly on the supposed "caged" side.  It really makes me wonder if animals, in all their seemingly inferior wisdom, really do have life figured out.  They truly enjoy each simple pleasure life has to offer, as it's unfolding before them and seem to do so without a worry in the world.

I know the glaringly obvious facts of human life vs animal life are more complex then I'm delving into here, but facts aside, the epiphany I gained from the few moments I got to spend with this little family taught me the invaluable lesson that life is only as difficult or as simple as we make it.  We have the ultimate choice whether we want to struggle on the popular side of the fence, fighting with the rest of the crowd, or consciously choosing the greener, less trodden side of being more observant, patient, and accepting of each cherished moment life bestows upon us.  Maybe humans really aren't the superior race, but in fact inferior is not embodying what animals have known forever: life in all of it's parts, is meant to be loved, enjoyed and lived, not a chaotic race toward the finish line.