The Blue Whale

I have been fascinated by the blue whale for most of my life. They are magnificent creatures with an average length that ranges from 80 to 90 ft., with some reaching 110 ft. Their life-span is between 89-90 years with the oldest topping approximately 110 years. There are estimated to be between 15,000 to 25,000 blue whales in existence, down from a peak historical estimate of 300,000 during pre-whaling days. While blue whales are essentially solitary creatures and travel alone when reaching adulthood, they communicate with others of their species with powerful low-frequency sounds that travel up to 1000 miles. This is, by far, the most powerful communication capability in nature. Their means of communication allows them to maintain contact with their species in order to gather to mate or to feed on plentiful krill areas of the world’s oceans.

The fact that blue whales are, by far, the largest mammals on a little “blue planet” makes them a priceless rarity. Sharing the planet with the kingdom of the blue whale creates a unique type of kinship for us. We are connected by the very fact that we breathe the same air, propagate life, nourish and hydrate ourselves, exist and thrive through the offerings of a small blue planet in the proximity of a rather small and insignificant star. We are, as mammalian species, anomalies in the known universe. Blue whales and humans are connected by the elements of the universe in which we reside and which both species explore…the oceans and the space around us.

Humans are relatively small and fragile creatures. Our life cycle is defined by environmental and circumstantial challenges that ultimately result in our demise. During the span of our life cycle, we strive to find our purpose for existence. We seek more as we trek through life…more wealth, more security, more happiness, more peace. During our trek, our attention is often diverted to “what’s next” in our life cycle itinerary. Our focus rests on somehow moving up the ladder toward a “more successful” life. Perhaps it’s because we have opposing thumbs and arms that are long enough to allow us to scratch the back of our head, we have created that “what’s next” focus that often leaves us with a deficit of fulfillment. Our planet-mate, the blue whale, gargantuan in size compared to us, focuses on survival in its most elemental form…sustenance, air supply, procreation. By human standards, the blue whale finds fulfillment much more efficiently. By living a focused and relatively simple life, the blue whale may exist as a mentor to humans. Our magnificent friend may teach us that connection with our species across vast distances, nourishment, and caring for our offspring are essentially enough. The fact that we breathe the same air inextricably connects us. Perhaps, in its own way, it is showing us a more simple pathway to fulfillment that has always been available to us.

bill@safeharborpathways.com