You Have to Be First at the River to Get a Drink
Below is a MRR and PLR article in category Self Improvement -> subcategory Success.
Be the First at the River: A Lesson from the Serengeti
During a visit to Africa's Serengeti Plains, I spent hours observing a herd of wildebeest cautiously approaching a river. This was part of the Great Migration, where over a million wildebeest journey from the arid Serengeti to the lush Masai Mara each summer.
The Challenge of Migration
The journey is arduous and the Grumeti River is often the only water source, critical for survival but fraught with danger. Unlike other animals that obtain moisture from grass, wildebeests need to drink from the river. Though they can last five days without water, they typically drink twice daily.
Life and Death at the River
Rivers support life, including predators hidden by vegetation along the banks. Lions wait for the right moment to attack, creating chaos in the herd. In one instance, I witnessed 28 crocodiles attacking an unfortunate wildebeest. Some escape with injuries, only to meet their fate elsewhere.
Sometimes, the river itself is perilous. The weight of the herd can force leading animals into the currents, risking death by drowning or crocodile attack.
The Dance of the River Crossing
Wildebeests seem aware of these dangers as they approach ideal crossing spots. They inch forward, sniffing the air and hesitating. The herd's pressure forces them closer until, driven by desperation, some dare to drink. On one occasion, a young gnu ventured ahead, driven by thirst or ignorance. While a few brave ones drank, others retreated, missing their chance.
Why didn’t more drink? Fear? Comfort in the herd’s safety? Only the bold quenched their thirst that day. At another crossing, a herd stood helplessly on a cliff, ignoring a nearby shallow crossing.
Lessons from the Wildebeest: Embrace Risk
Are you like the wildebeest, held back by fear or routine? Successful people are risk-takers; they reach the river, drink, and sometimes pay the price. Life is full of risks?"driving, working, shopping, eating?"all hold uncertainties. T.S. Eliot once said, "Only those who will risk going too far can possibly find out how far one can go."
Many wish to change but hesitate, watching others succeed while they remain thirsty. Don’t let fear stop you. Don’t wait for others to push you. Act. The choice of action or inaction is yours. Only you can start your new path. Katherine Mansfield wisely stated, "Risk! Risk anything! Ignore others' opinions. Do the hardest thing for you. Act for yourself." Take that risk today, and you’ll never thirst again.
You can find the original non-AI version of this article here: You Have to Be First at the River to Get a Drink.
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