The four lessons of penguins

Today is World Penguin Day. It’s the perfect day to acknowledge the lessons of our tuxedo’d friends. (They do have a sense of style, don’t you think?)

Penguins are harbingers of climate change. They understand all too well the reality of global warming. The Emperor Penguins of Antarctica have found that many of their usual haunts are no longer the same, much of the icy terrain has dripped into the oceans. Their terra firma is melting under their very feet. The African Penguin is endangered because it now has to swim so far for its food source of cold water fish.
Penguins value community. Penguins live in colonies. They know how to get along and work together. In today’s parlance, we would say they have good social skills.

Children are a priority. Penguins honor their baby penguins, aka chicks. One parent travels far to make sure there is food for their offspring. Family matters.

Penguins like to play and have fun. They do, indeed, have happy feet as they splash and play in the water and toboggan on the ice.

All hail, the mighty penguin. Happy World Penguin Day. Thank you for raising our awareness, reminding us of important priorities and being symbols of play and fun. You are remarkable beings. I am delighted we share this blue-green marble together.

p.s. Thanks to National Geographic for the great photo.