Day 2: Jen’s Purpose In Life

I spent this day understanding a person’s purpose in life.

This day went about the same as Monday. We had a tour around the park again, exploring areas we hadn’t yesterday. But apart from the usual interview questions, we asked Jen about his life (Jen’s our tour guide). Jen studied tourism in a university in Chiang Mai, I’m not sure which. Despite what most would consider a prestigious education, he chose to come to the elephant sanctuary, when he could have gone on to places where he could definitely earn more. His job involves teaching tourists about the elephant situation in Chiang Mai, and also to help the mahouts out with the elephants. He feeds, bathes, and gets to know each elephant on a personal basis. He tells people who come to the park, that attractions like elephant riding, and going to the circus actually take a toll on the poor creatures.

Jen’s decision to devote his career to the elephants in Thailand really moved me deeply. Often I get the impression that humans, or rather myself, often are too caught up and concerned with our own needs. Most of us think that our life revolves around us, as if we were the lead actor in a movie. But Jen, devoting his career to the elephants, inspires me on a new level. He acts as if he were only a part of his life, and that other living creatures belong to it as well. All life is just life, and nothing more. The best we could do is to lessen the suffering of others if we can.

Jen did not say this much, so a lot of this might be inaccurate cause it comes from my own inference. But I would like to think this is the case, because I find it very noble to dedicate your life to a cause you believe is good. As an Environmental Earth Systems Science undergraduate, I know I am put in a position where I can put my life to some use for our home planet. Ever since that day I have been thinking deeply into what I would like to devote my life to. I find that devotion to something other than myself can actually derive me joy on a level I would never attain if I were to focus on myself solely. Jen is a simple man, yet the depth of his life’s purpose really strikes me on a personal level.

I learn that I am not as important as I think I am, and I am still far from realising how important other life forms are as well. I have only pitied and empathised, but I feel I am nowhere near to realising how another life truly, truly matters.