“The owl and the chimpanzee went to sea
In a beautiful boat called The Mind
The owl was sensible, clever and smart
The chimp was a little behind
The owl made decisions, based on fact
And knew where to steer its ship.

The chimp reacted a little too fast
And often the boat would tip
The waves would come and crash aboard
The chimp would start to cry
Large tears would roll right down his face
Afraid that he would die

The chimp and the owl would wrestle at night
When the world was quiet and still
The chimp would jump up and rock the boat
And the boat would start to fill

Then the owl stepped in and grabbed a pail
And started to empty it out
And the chimp would start to get quite cross
And would often scream and shout
The battle continued night after night
Until the chimp started to see
That if it let the owl take control
A more peaceful night it would be.”

This poem written by Jo Camacho, articulates the inner workings of a human. Some may experience internal conflicts where their brain (chimp brain) creates irrational thoughts and beliefs. The important part is that we recognize such irrational thoughts and use the wisdom and courage we all have to fight through that which is represented by the wise owl. Camacho showcases how despite conflicts arising in one’s life, as they are inevitable, it is up to us to fight with our inner wisdom and strength to live a more peaceful healthy life.

Image Credits:
Feature Image: Agto Nugroho, On Unsplash, Creative Commons