Rather Be an Elephant Than a Jackass

People can be cruel and especially when the other person is different from them. Bullying is a fact and it has been happening for several years. Due to a weight issue, many children are called little elephants. You can hear them in the school grounds stomping their feet to imitate how an elephant walks when an obese child is walking by. Some people even choose their mates according to body image and ridicule others. Having dealt with weight issues since day one of my life, I speak from experience. 

Mind you, these types of name callings really hurt, and it would be wonderful if they stopped. Everyone is different and bodies come in all different shapes, sizes and colors. Children should be taught to respect these differences at home since day one of childbirth. Nonetheless, let´s take a look at the elephant itself.

Elephants are mammals.  Female elephants, called cows, live together and take care of the other baby elephants called calves if they need to be nurtured. The male elephant, called bulls, can live alone and usually leave the group (family) when they reach puberty, seeking to start their own families. Elephants live near water holes whenever it is possible and are herbivorous, which means they only eat plants, but yet they are big and beautiful. Most animals tend to stay away from them due to their size, however, their predators like lions, tigers, wild dogs tend to attack the calves which are easier to kill because they are smaller. However, calves are almost always surrounded and protects by the older elephants. Elephants can live up to 70 years in the wild. They communicate by touch, sight, smell, and sound. Elephant intelligence has been compared with that of primates and whales and dolphins. They appear to have self-awareness, as well as appearing to show empathy for dying and dead family members. Elephants are also well known for having an amazing memory.

Elephants sound pretty amazing when you come to think of it. You should not be ashamed of your body no matter what size, shape or color. We are all created differently and are unique. Be proud of yourself. If there is something about your body that bothers you and only you, go ahead and make the change. However, do it because of you. I realize that this mindset only comes with maturity. But wouldn´t it be wonderful if humans cared for humans like elephants do?

After having read all these wonderful facts about elephants, I would rather be called an elephant than a jackass.

Written: August 4, 2020

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