Lady usually enters the barn in the mornings and waits for breakfast. The other morning, she came into her stall, turned around, and went into the chute.
She put her feet in the empty jacuzzis and looked expectantly at her humans. She was ready to go – it was her humans that weren’t ready. She’s just charming that way. Some days, she wants things in specific ways.
It’s easy for anyone – human or elephant – to get into a routine without questioning it. We try to ask ourselves frequently, “does it matter?” Lady usually has breakfast before her foot soaks, so when she decides to go out of order, it’s so easy to think, “oh, no! Breakfast happens first!” and change what she is doing to fit a routine that doesn’t matter. During these moments, we stop and ask ourselves, “Does it matter?” Sometimes it does matter, but frequently it doesn’t. If Lady wants her foot soaks first, that’s ok. It truly doesn’t matter (no matter what our silly human brain thinks reflexively!).
Once we saw Lady standing cheekily in her empty jacuzzis, awaiting her soaks, the caregivers switched up what they are doing. She enjoyed her breakfast during foot soaks and then had treatment after.
She gives us what we ask for all the time, so it feels good to show her we appreciate her and can give her what she asks for when she asks. After her out-of-order morning, she was a total peach. She was super light and happy all day.
Photo of Lady in her new afternoon favorite place – the mud wallow
March 21, 2020
Comments(17) 


















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Kelejan says
March 21, 2020 at 2:35 pmLady know she is in Paradise.
Alana says
March 21, 2020 at 2:44 pmShe’s looking so good, is she losing weight?
EleComposer says
March 21, 2020 at 6:23 pmNo, she’s not losing weight, her body is just shifting. She’s actually building muscle mass, so instead of having a sticky-outy sagging belly, she’s developing toned muscle on the underside.
Kelejan says
March 21, 2020 at 7:29 pmI bet Lady is fitter now than most of us. We too could get rid of our sticky sagging bellies and look toned, just by eating the right food and continually moving and the we would look great a s well. No offence but only thinking of myself.
Nishant Bhajaria says
March 21, 2020 at 11:05 pmThese ports are keeping me balanced and happy during this difficult time, but the most important thing is that the elephants are happy. Thank you for all you do.
Barb says
March 21, 2020 at 2:53 pmSometimes I just pause and savor the thought of how Lady, Rana, and Maia have a joyous life in sanctuary. Loved Lady’s out of order morning!
Lila says
March 21, 2020 at 3:10 pmMore adorable every day 🙂
Heidi says
March 21, 2020 at 3:11 pmA great lesson! It’s so easy to become set in our ways. Animals and children remind us it’s okay to do things differently. I love Lady’s big smile in her photo!
Lynne Russert says
March 21, 2020 at 3:19 pmShe’s keeping you on your toes with her prerogative to change her mind!!!Good girl!!???
Nancy Shaw says
March 21, 2020 at 4:17 pmYEA !! : )
SHEILA says
March 21, 2020 at 5:22 pmaaahh sweet lil lady?. shes amazing!! yes if lady self directed herself on this day getting footsoak first, thats excellent‼️ she feels better in her feet! and its her priority!! that so funny i guess basically “lady? dances to the beat of her own drummer”??
Julie says
March 21, 2020 at 6:48 pmShe looks beautiful, healthy, and happy! ?
Debbie Sides says
March 21, 2020 at 8:00 pmShe’s just cute as a button. So glad she enjoyd her foot soaks. I can imagine how good it feels on her tootsies.
Lynn says
March 21, 2020 at 9:47 pmIsn’t it great how gun ho she is to get better?
I love her to the moon
Rosie P says
March 22, 2020 at 5:05 amBless her beautiful heart!
Jill P says
March 22, 2020 at 5:07 amLove you sweet Lady, just for being you. Thank you all for being the perfect carers for these elephants so they can heal in their own way ?
Tammy Nelson says
March 22, 2020 at 10:37 amLady is simply amazing she’s so smart you go girl whatever makes your lil heart happy!
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Lady’s Out-of-Order Morning