Jeff Bucchino, "The Wizard of Draws"
I just heard an interesting story about some Apes. It goes something like this:
There were 5 Apes in a cage with a winding stair case in it. At the top of the winding stair case, there was a bunch of bananas. One of the Apes takes action and heads to the top of the stair case. He has confidence and is going after those bananas. He is almost to the top when he is demoralized and sprayed with a gush of freezing cold water. The freezing cold water knocked him down to the ground. The freezing water also gets all the other Apes soaking wet. However, this Ape, he is determined to get those bananas. He does not allow the set back to stop he. He sees it as a challenge and tries again. At the exact same spot on the stair case, he is sprayed again by a big gush of freezing cold water. Again the freezing water soaks him and all other other Apes. So he and the rest of the 4 Apes give up. They all decide that the action of going for the bananas is not worth the demoralization of being sprayed with freezing cold water. They make a community decision to never ever try to get the bananas again.
Several weeks go by and one of the 5 original Apes is replaced with a new Ape. This new Ape notices the bananas and decides he is going to achieve the goal of getting the bananas. The moment the new Ape starts toward the stairs, all the other 4 Apes challenge, attack and beat him. The 4 original Apes that have experienced the demoralization of the cold water will not let him go up the stairs. This Ape decides to never every try for those bananas again. He is not really sure why he was attacked, he just concludes that those bananas are not worth another beating.
Eventually all of the 5 original Apes that experienced the demoralization of being splashed with cold water are no longer in the cage. There are all new Apes; however none of these Apes have even trying to reach the bananas because they have each experience an attack from the other Apes when trying; however they have no idea why they should not go up the stairs after the bananas. All they know is their experience from their first attempt to go after the bananas.
Then one day a 6th Ape is brought into the cage. He sees the bananas and asks the other 5 Apes about them. All 5 Apes in unison tell him not to go up there, do not ever try to get those bananas. They have no idea why, they just know that it has always been that way.
This 6th Ape has a desire for those bananas. He has a clear vision of what it is he wants. He has decided that nothing is going to stop him from going after those bananas. Up the stairs he goes. To all the others Apes amazement, nothing happens to him. He makes it to the top of the stairs, gets the bananas and brings them down to the rest of the group to enjoy in his success.
As I learn to think for myself and ask empowering questions, not just accept the answer “Because it has always been that way”, I am having more celebrations in life.
Loving Life – Debi Talbert
