Who's watching the alligator's back? He's watching yours.

The alligator blame game:   Accusing a valuable mentor of being a menace.

Before I demonstrate how alligators provide lessons to humans, I find it necessary to address the elephant in the room.    Let's face it.   The alligator's reputation fuels fear in most humans even though, most of the time, humans and alligators coexist peacefully.

Alligators have been on earth for 150-180 million years.  Now that's survival!  Our human ancestors have only been around 6 million years and our modern day relatives only about 200,000 years.   We should be in respectful, awe of alligators, right?

Unfortunately, like sharks, alligators usually only appear in the evening news when there is a fatal or injurious interaction with a human or someone's animal companion, like a dog.  When this happens, it brings me great sadness for both victims.   Yes, both victims.  Recognizing this, is predicated on the belief that no animal species has more of a right to our planet than another.  Likewise, humans have witnessed different animal species assisting one another, without a supposedly genius human as one of the parties.  Instead, much like jumping in front of a moving car, many humans put themselves in precarious situations with an alligator, and then blame the alligator.  Who knows better?  Who is supposedly the more intelligent animal?  Aren't humans thoroughly aware of all the facts about carnivorous alligators including where they live and eat?  

Humans are responsible for staying out of the alligators way or moving the alligator to a safe habitat.  It is quite evident that alligators do not have the innate ability to go vegetarian or only eat what humans want them to eat.  Ultimately, when there is human tragedy via a fatal or injurious encounter with an alligator, blame can be traced to humans even if it isn't the victim who should take the blame.  The victim may have been mislead with improper signage.  The victim may be an animal companion who was allowed to wander freely near alligator habitats.   The victim may have been lacking intelligence due to being under-age or being mentally handicapped.  Both should have been supervised accordingly to prevent a tragedy.

My thoughts and prayers go out to all of the victims.   I'm not insensitive to this.   At the same time, to minimize future victims, we have to dissect the situation and be realistic.  We can't dish out knee-jerk reactions that are severely flawed just to make ourselves feel better.    Those to blame for incidents have to take accountability, even if it's painful emotionally and economically.   Then they have to  modify their mindset and behavior.   Who are the victims though? 

Tragedy is like a grenade.  It reaches out in many directions with impact.   Victim number one, or rather a needless tragedy, is the human or animal companion (sometimes called a pet).    Victim number two is the alligator himself, who will inevitably be hunted down and slaughtered in retribution and to prevent further "attacks" (simply the desire to nourish himself to stay alive, not to murder a human).  Of course, there are indirect sufferings too, such as the enormous grief experienced by relatives and friends of the human.  Does that truly account for all of the victims?  

There's more.   It is a proven fact that other species of animal grieve too.  Humans are yet to discover all there is to know about other animals we share our world with.  So it is fair to say that relatives, and friends of an animal companion (what many humans call "pets"), and other animals like the alligator, will knowingly or unknowingly suffer loss, even if it's not emotional loss.  Emotional loss by our fellow animals has been witnessed by humans.   Is the emotional loss of a fellow animal less important to that of a human being's loss?  I'd say that our fellow animal wouldn't think so, would he?   At the very least, the continuity of the family generations and/or species of the victim animal, like the alligator, has been damaged or even eliminated.     Whether that animal realizes it or not, he suffered that loss.   We know he suffered that loss, don't we?  How many humans care about that and if not, why not?   In the case of the fatality of a human and an alligator, who do you think is at fault for the tragic loss of the human, the alligator and that of their relatives and friends?

I ask you to seriously contemplate this.   Humans and alligators share Earth.  Humans are the most intelligent species of animal on our planet.   We know with almost complete certainty where alligators reside.   Humans also know that alligators are carnivorous.   We know that humans and alligators, share the same natural, primary goal to sustain itself.  Like a human, an alligator's innate trait is to eat other animals for food.   What should humans do with all of this knowledge?  Should we apply our intelligence and act wisely?  

Doesn't it make sense that it is a human's responsibility to stay out of the alligator's way?  I think the answer is clear.   The alligator is just being an alligator.  It is a human's responsibility to prevent injury to both himself, his companion animal (such as a dog or cat), and the alligator.  Humans can take preventative measures such as keep ourselves and our children away from known dangerous situations.  We can put up fences, stay clear of habitats, keep animal companions indoors or away from habitats, and thoughtfully relocate alligators to areas where they don't present a danger.   We can coexist peacefully with the alligator.  Yes, we can ensure that the alligator can live well too.   Now that I've gotten that out of the way, let's take a look at lessons brought to us by the alligator, with it's seemingly permanent smile of not so pearly whites.

Here's a gator's lesson on communication.  

Do alligators "speak"?   Did you know that alligators have no vocal cords?      The alligator has adapted and learned to communicate without them.   An alligator will fill up his lungs, and roar to get his message across.   There are two primary messages and they come from the male.  It depends on his mood and circumstances.  His first message basically is, "Hear ye, hear ye, I want to mate.  I'm an attractive mating companion.  Let's mate."      If the alligator wants to have the place to himself, his deep, bellowing roar will mean, "If you are another male, you better stay away, or you will regret it."

Whether you are a male of female human being, the alligator can make you more cognizant of your own communication.  The alligator knows what message he is trying to convey and he does it well.   You also need to understand what it is you are trying to say, before you address another human.  If you aren't sure, take more time to formulate your thoughts and timing.  Otherwise you will either convey the wrong message, or you will only confuse the other person.   This is especially true if you are trying to communicate about a topic you know little about.  It's that simple.

Are you speaking to your audience with a method that your audience can best receive and understand your thoughts?   The alligator clearly gets his message across.  He knows his audience.   Determine who your audience is, and cater the message to that audience.   A good example of this is how we often speak to young children.  You may talk in an endearing, softer tone, and choose simpler words so the child is open to receive your message and understand it.  Similarly, the knowledge base, and psychological status of adults varies significantly.  If an adult is an emotional wreck, you may need to speak to them differently than when they just won the lottery.   Another example, is that a mechanic may need to explain remedies in much simpler terms if his customer knows nothing about car engineering.  

What if your audience is not a single person but two hundred people?  Similarly, you need to gain an understanding of the needs and intelligence for the range of the audience you are speaking to, so your message will be understood and helpful to most or all of your audience.   One strategy is to cater your message to the lowest intelligence level to gain maximum understanding by the entire audience.   The risk is that those of higher intelligence will tune out or even be insulted.   Maybe there's a happy medium.

If there are more alligators in the vicinity stretching in a farther radius, an alligator may bellow louder so that he projects his message farther.  Are you bellowing so people can hear you or is there another reason?  Maybe you are stressed.   Are you trying to talk over other humans so your message has priority?   Are you unintentionally or intentionally trying to drive other humans you way or away?

Humans can apply far more than volume to get their message out.   Think of the many ways you can get your message across more effectively.   Are you clearly articulating your message?   What choice of words are you using?   What is your consistent volume?  What is your expression and body language conveying and is it consistent with your choice of words?  What does your cadence convey?  Are you pausing enough, to let the recipient of your message process your message?    Listen to yourself and decide if you need to make changes.   Ask a variety of trusted listeners, for their honest opinion of your delivery.  You may want to even record yourself and/or look in the mirror while you speak to practice your vocal delivery, facial expression, and body language.

The gator's lesson on finding your zone.

Alligators are typically seen basking in the sun or taking a swim. This is because alligators can't control their temperature internally. So, when they are cold, they sunbathe, and when they are hot, they go for a swim.  Alligators respond to their body's needs.  They don't ignore their own body's signals.  If they did, they would perish or get seriously ill.

Are you heeding signs that your body is giving you?  Perhaps you are tired, gaining weight, or having a myriad of other symptoms of poor overall health.   What about your mental status?  Are you angry, depressed, sad, zealous, bored, etc.?   Like the alligator, you should not ignore your body's messages to you.  Take action and remedy issues by seeking help or by consciously taking measures of self-help.

It's easy on the days when your brain and your body are firing on all cylinders.   It seems like nothing could go wrong on days like this.   You feel like you are in the "zone".    You can usually accomplish much more on days like these as your excellent physical and mental health conditions make it easier.  Keeping up this momentum is key, and focusing your plentiful energy towards strong achievement is wise.   Do your best to stay in the "zone" by taking care of yourself, and surrounding yourself with positive messaging.  If you don't, your optimum mental and/or physical state will be compromised, wasted, and possibly take a rapid descent to instability or a seemingly depressing, bottomless pit.

What about your harder days, when your body and mind are suffering?  Get yourself the assistance that you need, and pamper yourself when your physical and mental well being is not optimum.   This may seem simple, however, I see people struggle with this a lot.  Surround yourself with positive people.   Dwell on positive events, not negative ones.  Read positive messages and news.  Don't stack too much on your shoulders during these days, or you could make your situation worse and make tons of mistakes.  Nurse yourself back to a good state with humor, entertainment and good news.   Sometimes people find that immersing themselves in their paid job, hobby, or project neutralizes their woes.  You are likely not in a good position to counsel others, as you need to get yourself back to an optimum state.   Seek out small wins that can add up to big wins.  Pace yourself back to a healthy state.

Small alligators hang out with alligators typically of the same size.  Who do you hang out with?

Alligators like to hang out in what is sometimes called congregations.  They are social animals.  This is especially true with smaller alligators, who usually have no problem socializing with like-sized alligators.  In contrast, alligators of dominant size will try to defend their territory. and dominant males and females may remain solitary.    How does this ring true for humans? 

There is much evidence to suggest that humans often socialize with humans that share commonalities.  The shared common traits could include language, sex, physical size, hobbies, sports, political leanings, nationality, race, similar histories, military service, and a virtually endless amount of other factors.   There are many benefits to this type of socializing in terms of understanding one another.  It is generally comfortable and provides you with a sense of "home".  Agreement and conversation could be quite easy with this small alligator-style approach to socialization.  Do you expand your knowledge and experiences greatly this way or is it more entertaining?

What about socializing with people significantly different than you?  Do you challenge yourself to socialize with others who are very different than you and maybe even completely opposite than you?  If you haven't tried it at all or with any frequency you may want to challenge yourself.   You may learn that you have misconceptions about the interests and character of humans, you have identified as different than you.  You may find it entertaining and educational.  You may try out different activities shared by these individuals  You may become curious or maybe you realize that your original understanding about those activities was incorrect and unfounded.  You likely will grow your character by socializing with people different than you enrich your life a great deal.

Lastly, since life if so short, no matter who you socialize with, choose who you spend time with wisely.  Make sure that you both are being enriched, and experiencing happiness as a result of the time you spend together.  Alligators try to make sure they don't get eaten for lunch by another alligator.  Shouldn't you?

The gator mentors protecting oneself.  What about your mental self-protection?

There are strong contributing factors as to why alligators have survived approximately 180 million years.   One feature of the alligator that is a main contributor to this longevity, is their protective skin.  Alligator's armor plates have stood the test of time itself.  Osteodurms, which are bony plates in the skin, make the skin very impenetrable.   The ridges inside the skin each contain a bone.    Another protective feature of an alligator is having two sets of eyelids.  An alligator also has a system of flaps and valves that prevent water from entering their nose, ears, and throat to keep water from entering their bodies and sinking or drowning them.    Depending on the conditions, an alligator can stay under water for 10 minutes to eight hours.    How are you constructed for protection?

You of course have fingernails, teeth and arms and legs to kick and hit in the physical sense of protection.  What about mentally?  What is your mental strength quotient?   Are your mental protective attributes responding instinctively to "false alarms"?  Are those same attributes preventing you from relating to people enjoyably and effectively?  You can take the time to really evaluate yourself, however, this can be difficult.  You may find your behavior warranted and normal since it's inherent.  Reach out to trusted sources for their opinion.  With feedback from others, you are likely to discover that the same attributes you should exercise to protect you, are consistently applied at the wrong times.   Those protective attributes may be in the the "on" mode, which can alienate others, without meaning to.. 

Mental barriers you put up to protect yourself are important.  They can keep you from getting hurt.  Know when to apply your mental protection.   Controlling those mental protective layers  so they don't keep you from enjoying life and other people is crucial.   It will help you attain better happiness and success in life.

Feeling exhausted?  What does an alligator do when he is exhausted?

Alligators differ from humans in that they are not mammals.  You have probably noticed that alligators lay around a lot.  That is because they can only exert themselves up to 30 minutes at a time.   You could  likely drag one away without a fight at that point.    They will be completely exhausted afterwards.  The muscles of an alligator expend their energy using anaerobic respiration.  This means that unlike mammals, alligators don't use oxygen for their muscle action.  What does an alligator do after 30 minutes of activity?  You're right.  He rests.

Humans do use some anaerobic respiration when their body is conducting extreme activities that use up more oxygen than they can produce.  The alligator's lesson here is very simple.   Pace yourself.   Know when to rest mentally and physically.  Then do it.

The alligator knows his conditions.  Do you?

While an alligator stops eating when it drops below 70 degrees in order to adapt and survive, I don't recommend doing that yourself.  I also wouldn't bury yourself in a mud den along a river bank if it gets cold.   There are some human actions you can take that are realistic and helpful though.  You should be keenly aware of the conditions around you whether at work or play.  Don't get tunnel-vision due to the activities you are involved in.  Take the time to soak in your surroundings intermittently, so you can determine what your next action should be or if you even need to take action.  Especially with today's electronics, such as the cell phone, it's important that you don't get so tuned out, you put yourself at risk, lack productivity, and miss out on other great activities in life.   Don't forget your survival skills when the going gets tough.  Respond to your conditions.   An alligator, if caught in a freeze in the water, will find a spot to put his nose on top of the water.  He is willing to have his nose frozen into the ice so he can survive.   He breathes with his nose protruding through the ice for days before the ice melts and he can swim away.

Think.   Think.  Think.   Remember these lessons the alligator shares by it's very nature.  Educate your fellow humans to avoid future tragedies for all animal parties involved.  The alligator is a truly remarkable fellow animal..

Here's some interesting facts about alligators:

• Lifespan:  est. 42 years
• Species existence:  Threatened status after taken off endangered species list in 1987
• USA Range:  Southeastern US, Texas, Louisiana (there are also some near the Yangtze River basin in China)
• Florida population:  est. 1.25 million alligators
• Total U.S. Population:  est. 5 million
• Mating season:  Mid-April-May
• Egg incubation:  about 62 days, hatch mid-August, mother may break some of the eggs with her mouth to help them hatch
•  Clutch size:  20-50 eggs
• Sex determination:  egg incubated at less than 82 degrees is female, egg incubated at 91 degrees+ is male, eggs incubated around 87 degrees can produce a mix
• Habitat:  fresh water and brackish water
• Diet:  Primarily carnivorous (birds, fish, mammals, reptiles) but eat fruit too
• Max speed:  water-20MPH  land-11MPH
• Size:  Up to 18 feet, 600lbs
• Leave mother to live on their own after about 2 years