It might seem like a burden, marching forth slathered with praise and accolades galore. Fortunately, Rhinos are built for the task. Nature and Family History have prepped Us.
Occasionally somebody will suggest Humility to Us. For Us, Humility seems like a denial of our RhinoCentric approach to matters. What feels appropriate to Us is Celebration of our bountiful provision.
Maybe other critters have a lot to be be humble about?
Rhinos mostly think of ourselves as sophisticated and insightful, but the truth is, We are easily mislead. That’s because We seldom understand why anybody would deliberately hoodwink Us.
Maybe We have too many Wide-eyed and Trusting Genes.
Better than lots of Sly Genes, right?
Rhinos enjoy many advantages, being Observant, Insightful, and Ingenious. We naturally arrive at many interesting conclusions, each one riveting, especially to the Rhino that had that idea. It is exciting to excel mentally.
The problem is that it misleads Us into wanting to share these Dazzling Conclusions in the form of Advice.
The surprise is that it is so hard to find anyone who wants it, even piping hot.
Rhinos are all about Good Times and Big Humor. Giggles are great, but Crazed Belching Laughter is even better.
An associated problem is: it isn’t always easy to tell a Laugher from a Crazy Person.
Let the Guffaw-er Beware.
Youth is surprising. One morning We wake up, and part of Us has grown! Was like that, now like this! The shifts grab our attention when We notice, which is not all the time (another feature of Youth).
Rhinos are never certain, even after 50 million years of wondering about it, whether We grow inside, making the outside stretch, or the outside grows and the inside has too hustle to fill it up…?
We don’t fret about these matters. Nature has worked out all those details for Us, allowing Rhinos to resolutely fumble forward.
All Rhinos like storytelling, in whatever format. It is interesting how Fictional Figures can hold our imaginations so thoroughly. We know these FFs as companions, pals, exemplars and foes. They engage some aspect of Us; We are kindred spirits.
It may be distillation of character that makes these FFs so user-friendly. The complexities are removed to focus on particular attributes or tonalities. Not so with our actual acquaintances, darn it.
We want our cake, but We show up with forks in hand. Uh-oh. Ambiguity!
Stories are fascinating. Not all Rhinos like the same tales, but each and every Rhino has a set of myths that help to define that individual. Those stories become part of that Rhino’s fabric, much the same way as Memories, themselves stories We hold dear. They are touchstones of our perception.
Stories invite an investment of selfhood that opens up a World for each Rhino. The Rhino may be one character, or all the characters. Nothing in the story has to stay constant, but at its core, that story resonates with that Rhino.
Like it or not, We are all composed of these interpretive ingredients.
Even Rhinos get sucked into the discussion of Progress, the urge to make everything unique and astonishing. It is a seductive idea. Get on board, and watch those Progressionary Marvels reveal themselves.
But Rhinos find that oftentimes We stride into the future, pumped up and whistling out of tune, only to arrive at the end of the trail, almost precisely where We started. It doesn’t seem entirely fair.
Perhaps Nature isn’t looking to Us to define Progress.
Today was Edvard Grieg’s birthday in 1843. His haunting music for Henrik Ibsen’s play Peer Gynt has always fascinated Rhinos.
In Peer Gynt, Peer is a freewheeling scamp. Full of potential and charm, but only partially civilized, he scoots around the world, frantically grasping at opportunity, ultimately accomplishing nothing. As a play it is remarkable in its ambition, a dream play really with lots of Dark Undertones.
Peer Gynt is very Rhino. When We each set out on our Quests, none of Us is sure what’s coming, how our lives will go. So perhaps each of Us is Peer Gynt.
Your Inner Rhino 