Lessons from the Majestic Ocean

By Niranjana KarthigaiRajan

The ocean is a huge body of saltwater that covers about 70 per cent of Earth’s surface. An estimated 97 percent of the earth’s water is held by the ocean. Because of this, the ocean has considerable impact on climate, temperature, and the food supply of mankind and other creatures.It makes all life possible on earth and sustains millions and millions of marine species from microscopic algae to the largest creature – the blue whale. The ocean is not only a source of food but also fun and is a route for trade and exploration. It has gems of life lessons for us. In this article, let us get our mind wet in the ocean of thoughts.

Lesson no 1: The secret to living is giving

I’m fascinated by one couplet in Thirukkural (one of the world’s greatest literary and philosophical masterpieces composed in Tamil by Thiruvalluvar): “Even the wealth of the wide sea will be diminished, if the cloud stops giving back the water as rain which is drawn from ocean.”

Our society plays a vital role in our life. We take food, shelter and education from here and so it is our paramount duty to give back to our community and society.

The contentment is not in material possessions but making better lives of the people around us. Giving back to society helps to strengthen our community which results in strengthening our nation.

Lesson no 2: Be a lifelong Learner

The ocean is a huge storehouse of water, and it is the most spread across and deepest among all water bodies, because it takes with it water from all sources – rain, rivers, lakes.

Similarly, we have to acquire skills and knowledge from all sources. Being a lifelong learner means that one should have an ignited mind and an innate curiosity to seek out and take advantage of every opportunity.

“Anyone who stops learning is old, whether at twenty or eighty. Anyone who keeps learning stays young,” says Henry Ford. All of the top achievers in the world are life-long learners.

Lesson no 3: Make the most of the opportunities

The ocean is common to all and gives opportunities to everyone to get pearls, some get fishes, and some enjoy by wetting their feet. It’s all up to us to take full advantage of the opportunities in order to attain our goals and fulfil our dreams.

When former President of India Dr APJ Abdul Kalam was studying in Fifth Grade, he had as teacher Sivasubramania Iyer. One day the latter was teaching about how the birds fly. At the end of the class, he wanted to know whether all had understood the lesson. As a few students said that they didn’t understand, he took all of them to the seashore. That single lecture on the seashore was a turning point in Abdul Kalam’s life. He later studied aeronautical engineering and became a rocket and aerospace engineer and a technologist.

Lesson no 4: Strive against all odds

Life is like surfing on the waves of ocean, and much like the waves life constantly throws up obstacles at us. You can’t stop the waves, but one can learn to surf.

Each wave is a new challenge, and once the wave is conquered one feels a sense of thrill and accomplishment. Similarly, we have to overcome each and every obstacle that comes our way without letting them drown or defeat us. Every obstacle overcome is a learning experience for us.

Lesson no 5: What do marine creatures say to us?

When a starfish loses its limbs when faced with fearsome predators, it doesn’t let its hold back. Rather, it can regrow arms completely that detach from their central disc. Similarly, life throws occasional mishaps at all of us, and we should believe that our human body has amazing self-healing power for mind, body and soul.

Have you ever wondered about the novel hunting strategies of killer whales? Orcas are incredibly intelligent, and they use diverse strategies for different preys. They teach us about teamwork, coordination, creativity and communication skills.

Salmon are one of the most unique fishes in the ocean. They are known for their ability to swim heroically against the flowing current and can live in both fresh and salt water. They have to swim great distances to live out their life cycle and fulfil their destiny. We have to swim against the the current of life like salmon and strive to cultivate the ability to thrive in different environments.

When you get your feet wet in the ocean next time, reflect on these lessons. Then the entire ocean of life is yours!

Mauritius Times ePaper Friday 19 May 2023