Last week, we were lucky enough to visit the Big Cat Sanctuary in Kent, they do some amazing things there.
Most recently, rescuing 5 lions from the conflict in Ukraine. We went to a talk that briefly explained the conditions they were living in, their journey here and their new enclosure. This coincided with them being fed too.
Their enclosure was next to another set of lionesses who hadn’t had their lunch and didn’t look happy; they got up on their platform and glared over the fence, one jumped down and paced up and down.
The keeper said that some of the lions onsite had only walked on grass for the first time when they arrived on site; it was sad to hear but heartwarming to see how they are now.
It made me think about the comparisons we make in our own
lives.
I compare myself to my Kung Fu students, their ease of movement and skill and get frustrated that my body isn’t as agile as it was when I was their age. Rather than being pleased with the fact that I’m still passionately training in martial arts nearly 37 years later.
I compare myself to my fitness to when I used to do mountains and long distance triathlons regularly. Rather than the appreciate that I can still hike in
mountain ranges, get out on my bike, run and swim; my time is more precious so longer distances don’t work at the minute.
Various injuries over the years have robbed me of some strength, yet I still manage to strength training a few times per week (and you should too) maintaining muscle mass and mobility potentially preventing further injuries.
We can all reminisce over our past achievements but the only person we need to compare ourselves to
is who we are today and who we want to be tomorrow. We can then take that information and use it to move towards the person we want to be.
If you are not sure who that is or what to do to get there, we can help with that.
Darren “Blondie” Checkley