I recently read a blog on generis.com that struck me as I learned a good lesson about greed and the dangers of holding on to something too long from baboons! Here is a segment of their blog:

“A television documentary on animal life in Africa was demonstrating how the natives of Africa have learned to find water during the dry season.  A native first located a colony of baboons.  Certain that the baboons were watching, the African dug a small hole in a dirt embankment.  He then placed a handful of fruit inside.

Baboons, it seems, are incurably curious, so as soon as the native returned into the jungle, one baboon quickly approached the hole.  Seeing the fruit inside, the baboon stuck his hand into the hole and grasped the tasty morsel.  The African hunter had skillfully carved the hole just large enough to allow the animal’s hand to enter but, when clasped around the fruit, the hand could not be withdrawn.

The native then returned from the concealment of the forest with a small rope in his hands.  Amazingly, as the man approached, the baboon shrieked in terror but refused to release the fruit and run for its life.  I found myself moving to the edge of my chair as this drama unfolded.  I expected the animal to bolt and run for its life but, incredulously, the native casually strolled up to the panic-stricken animal, laid the noose over the animal’s neck, and pulled him away.

The animal was then tied to a tree, given salt, and held captive for a couple of days without water.  As soon as it was released, the baboon made a beeline for its secret waterhole.  The native simply followed the thirst-driven animal and found the water he would never have found without the animal’s unwitting assistance.” (See source below)

Do you relate to the baboon? Do you find yourself holding on to things so tightly that you put yourself in harms way because you are scared to let go?

Sometimes in life we have to let go and lean into change in order to protect and save ourselves. Remember you can’t control anything but yourself. Learn from the baboon’s mistakes and start letting go of dangerous things in your life!

Source: http://generis.com/blog/2012/05/21/what-a-baboon-taught-me-about-greed/

Written by Teri Claassen MSW, LCSW, LCAC

Teri Claassen MSW, LCSW, LCAC is a licensed therapist at Imagine Hope Counseling Group. Teri enjoys doing marriage counseling, individual counseling, couples and relationship counseling. Teri also does family counseling, child counseling, and adolescent counseling. Imagine Hope serves the Indianapolis area, including the surrounding areas of Carmel, Fishers, Noblesville, Zionsville, and Westfield.