Dear friends,

The year 2020 has come and gone filled with surprises. From deep despair and conflict, to amazing innovation and triumph, the world seems to have experienced all the joys and sorrows of several years compressed into one. Whether we have directly experienced these highs and lows or not, 2020 has certainly given us all a lot to think about if nothing else. Not only have we shared a global story encountering a strange and unpredictable virus, but we have also seen the effects on the environment when industry comes to a hold, when traffic slows down, and when we spend more time outside. From political upheaval to questions about globalization and the future of our planet, so many of us are left wondering what our place is in the middle of it all? Is there time to turn around the forces of greed and self-interest, and harvest a new relationship to life on earth? Is there time to beat the clock on the depletion of nature and avoid the possibility of human extinction?

These may seem like grim questions but the evidence from the scientific world seems clear: we have some big choices to make. The way we have lived until now will have to change. Now, take a deep breath… this might all be good news! When we think of the roots of our failing relationship with wilderness and wildlife, we all know that the unchecked consumption of global resources and unfettered expansion of human territory, fuelled by shortsighted materialism and a blind, even if innocent, drive towards personal comforts is at the poisonous root of our problem.

Ridged “power-over” business and political leaders make short sighted decisions and we reward them. Conspicuously, as we become more wealthy and technologically advanced as a human species, it seems we are becoming more impoverished in peace of mind and sense of connection. Is it possible the 2020 wake up call from the planet is not just about changing behaviors, but also about changing hearts and minds. If we are to be a sustainable animal sharing this planet, we are due for a radical paradigm shift. Yet, it turns out, the change will be more than good for us personally. It turns out that what is good for wilderness and wildlife is also good for you and me.

Evolutionary biology and decades of hard scientific research prove that the cooperative model is in fact the model that survives and thrives in nature, not the competitive one. More so, science has come to reveal that no aspect of nature is isolated from another. The laws of physics, chemistry, and biology that govern the lady bug (or ladybird) are very much the same laws that govern the supernova, the crumbling Himalayas, the white rhino, and the toxic effects of pollution. No one lives outside of nature. We are nature. Nature is life, life is nature, and human beings are a temporary, magnificent expression of both. The gift you can give yourself this holiday season is to take some quiet time to reflect and feel the calling of your own life for a greater wholeness and balance.

I love guiding safari in Southern Africa, and its an incredible privilege to introduce people to breath-taking experiences, new insights about conservation, and the beauty of African culture. My greatest joy, however, comes when I get to experience the “ah-ha” moments, as people begin to see themselves in the majestic wildlife they are watching. There is something clear yet unspeakable in the vulnerability of the impala, something in the boldness of the Cape Buffalo, there is magic in seeing a baby elephant, or a feeling of overwhelm at the beauty of a close encounter with a leopard. In these moments we sense that “they” are still connected to something we have lost. We sense that in some way we are not unlike them. We feel both humbled and inspired when we take time to be close to nature.

In the galactic story of time and natural history, the human experience doesn’t register as a flash. If we were to take the existence of the earth from the moment of its formation to the present, and consider that time frame one calendar day, a 24 hour period, human existence would occupy only the last minute of that 24 hour day. It’s provocative to consider this, and it’s deeply endearing to recognize that in our one minute of influence we, perhaps like a pandemic for the planet, we have harvested, exploited, and conquered nearly 3/4 of the world’s land mass. Meanwhile below, scourges of overfishing, underwater weapons testing, and highly unstable, toxic deep-sea mining for oil and gas continue unchecked. The waters are no longer clean nor abundant with life.

In light of this anthrocene, the first era in planetary history in which one species shapes the climate and resources available for all others, it is still difficult for many people to consider why the salvation of one endangered animal might matter to the rest of us. Ironically, the unconscious sense of uncertainty and fear that pervades the human experience compels us to seek comforts at the expense of the very life support system we rely on. This is a mistaken logic that must change, and will be to our great delight.

Of all the messages we have received and interpreted from the year 2020, one must surely see that true health, true resilience, and true happiness, cannot come from dependence on external circumstances and unsustainable behaviors. Maybe this holiday season will mark a turning point in which we consider that the self-sacrifices, commitments, and innovations that are required for a global environmental turn around are in fact the gateway to our own human transformation healing and endurance. It turns out, that what is good for the planet is good for humans. As we conserve and serve nature, we conserve and serve a vital part of ourselves. Your health and the future of the earth are, in fact, intimately connected.

As a so-called expert on human wellness and integrative health, I was struck and inspired by the recent documentary on the life and work of Sir David Attenborough. What I noticed is not only that we have solutions available to us to transform our environmental story today, but that the same solutions for the environment are very closely related, perhaps even a mirror, for what the human species needs for itself.

Each step needed to revive our natural world is a step that teaches us what we need as a human community. Reforestation with local plants, sustainable energy, managing consumption, changing diets, respecting the waterways, and protecting wild places and creatures are all actions that reflect the very same need for restoration and wholeness that people are craving all over the world today. Consider this for yourself as we set new plans for 2021.

If we take a look at the 5 ecological recommendations of Sir David Attenborough, you will find five correlate wellness opportunities for yourself in 2021. Consider these transformative tips a small gift from us to you:

1. Run the world with renewable energy. In your life, this means choosing the habits, relationships, and behaviors that connect you with an energy that is inspiring and satisfying. Toxic commitments and unhelpful relationships drain our energy. The pursuit of goals that fill our pockets but not our hearts has never been a sustainable path.
2. Restore the ocean’s abundance by introducing no fishing zones. If we translate this into a wellness principle we can first consider that water has long been associated with emotion. Restore your emotional resilience by having times of personal sabbath. “No fishing” equates to not striving. Give yourself a little time every day and a lot of time every weekend to be creative, restful, unproductive and open.
3. Change our diet to be largely plant-based. Sorry, there is no trick here! It turns out that the diet that leading physicians and medical institutions are recommending to decrease the inflammatory process, lower the risk of cancer and heart disease, and improve the possibility of vibrant longevity, is the same diet the planet wants for her health.
4. Halt deforestation and restore forests. Deforestation can be a metaphor for the sacrificing of one’s own authentic for short term gain. Restoring forests in the ecological world is about empowering the earth’s natural ability to heal through biodiversity and the sequestering of carbon. In a similar way, the human mind and body are built to help us heal and find wholeness. Cultivating a relationship of trust with life allows us to give up the ways we feed fear, judgement and control in our relationships.
5. Replant native trees on a global scale. Reforesting with what is natural and local reminds us that the heaviest version of ourselves is also the most authentic. Explore your values, priorities, preferences and what connects you to a true sense of happiness and wellbeing. Reforest your life with the people, places, and activities that remind you of who you are at heart.

The White Lion Foundation thrives on rigorous science, extensive experience, and advanced leadership. But the heart of the work is fuelled by a love of life on earth, compassion for wildlife, and a desire to restore the balance between human and animal communities. We hope this holiday season brings you closer to what matters most to you, to a renewed sense of compassion for and connection with nature, and the inspiration to make a difference.

Yours

Dr. Jonathan Ellerby PhD