We here at Happy Dancing Turtle have an affinity with the turtle. The majestic turtle is seen in our culture as both patient and wise. From children’s lessons that indoctrinate the values of “slow but steady wins the race” to famous anecdotes of our world consisting of turtles “all the way down“, the grand turtle permeates our modern mythology in many ways.
Take a look at modern turtle poetry. One of my wife’s favorite poems is a classic by Shel Silverstein. It’s called “The Bagpipe Who Didn’t Say No”. It’s a charming poem told in a bouncing rhyming pattern about a turtle who discovers a set of bagpipes on the shore of the sea. If you’ve never read it, take a quick moment to enjoy it. It’s only just one way we see an aspect of the turtle in our culture.
Shel Silverstein’s “The Bagpipe Who Didn’t Say No” is a classic.
Another way our culture views the grand turtle is through its use in cartoons. You have many iterations that highlight the eggheaded nature of the turtle. Just look at these two examples:
On the left, you see Toby from the classic Robin Hood. He’s good-natured, well-intentioned…nerdy, but a scaredy cat. You could call the turtle on the right a nerd, as well. Donatello from Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles delivers a punch just like the rest of his brothers, but with the use of his brains.
But, what do these examples say about the turtle? They are continually being represented in our culture, which says to me that they are popular. They’re popular because they have desirable identifiable qualities, such as determination and intelligence. And, above all that, I see another quality in turtles that should be emulated far and wide: resiliency.
Turtles (or more specifically, tortoises) are well-known for their longevity. Only just last decade, the tortoise captured by Charles Darwin himself passed away at the ripe old age of 175 years. Lonesome George, a monument to conservation efforts, passed away at 100 years old. Both these stalwarts lived long, and what is the key to living a long time? You guessed it: Resiliency.
This is Jonathan, an 182-year-old tortoise. You can see him at age 81 in the picture on the left.
Who would you say has a more resiliency, a turtle or a frog? Who would you peg to have the ability to bounce back from hardship, a turtle or a rabbit? Moreover, who would you say has the ability to endure difficulties, ups, and downs, and do it in a manner only described as “stoic”? You bet you’d say a turtle. I know I would.
So, let’s celebrate the turtle. Let’s hold it high among the best animals. Not that the mighty turtle would ask us for it, but let us pay tribute to it. Good job turtles! You’re an inspiration to not only our organization but to the world! Keep it up!
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