LIVE IN THE MOMENT

December 05, 2008

As I am trying my best to say goodbye to all the animals and this lifestyle, I cant help thinking about what I'm going to miss and what I am looking forward to when all this comes to an end. The thing that I'm really excited about, with all this sentiment in my head, is the fact that I can enjoy things in the moment rather than in hindsight. All too often I find myself the kind of person that looks ahead at the next set of tasks, rather than enjoying the ones that I’m living. I have been forcing myself to think of the things I am going to miss and then in so doing, really enjoying them while I still can.

The things that I am going to miss most are the lions, obviously. Not just them and their characters and personalities in my life, but I’m going to miss the easy access to my personal passion. Living a life where every day is one filled with the possibility of finding something that I am overwhelmingly passionate about is very special to me. The paced lifestyle, where I wake up to a sunrise over my tented camp, eat dinner with the sun setting over the lions territory and going to sleep under the most amazing stars, is one that I will miss while living in the city. There is an entire list of things that I will miss as I go through my day and each time I am reminded that I won't have that particular thing I try my best to enjoy it. I really have had a good life out here.

The things I am looking forward to are a little more detail oriented, the list is very long. I won’t bore you with the list of things that I am going to enjoy from running water to a refrigerator. Mostly I still miss all the things that I thought I would when I started this project. I can’t wait to wake up and have my morning coffee with two of my best friends. I will enjoy walking downtown to the gym with one good friend, meeting up with another a bit later. Knowing when I come home at night I’ll have loved ones to eat dinner with. I can't wait to get a call that has my whole family meeting up somewhere and I actually can attend. These are the things that will say that I'm home.

I guess that is what a lot of this is about. It’s about sense of self. Having passion in my life, taking time for myself, knowing who I am, being around loved ones and knowing what I need to make my own sense of home are some of the things that I need to be happy.

...Oh and lions too, I think I need them to be happy :)

Comments

[ming quach]

Dave,you need to look at the big picture! Do you realize your ignorance is endangering lions? While you are filming this tastless show of yours, you are never in "real" danger are you? Try being out there with lions ALONE! Now, thats a film worth watching! What you are doing is playing games with lions for t.v. which will and maybe already has gotten lions killed. I know a little about film making, editing, cut scenes, bloopers etc, You only show what you want the people to see.How many times were you almost cat-chow, and they had to shoot the lion? not with the camera? my advise to you, leave the LIONS ALONE!You can't control nature, Who do you think you are? I no longer watch Animal Planet because of your selfish actions and stupidity. From Tacoma Washington ...Scott

[L.T.]

Hey Dave,
Some males don't have a real sense of home until they're well into their sixties. Especially, when they have a job to do. Your work, though demanding, maybe at times lonely, is very important. You saved these lions and the people who visit them. What's your next project?

[scott quach]

mingquach@yahoo.com >>>> Dave,you need to look at the big picture! Do you realize your ignorance is endangering lions? While you are filming this tastless show of yours, you are never in "real" danger are you? Try being out there with lions ALONE! Now, thats a film worth watching! What you are doing is playing games with lions for t.v. which will and maybe already has gotten lions killed. I know a little about film making, editing, cut scenes, bloopers etc, You only show what you want the people to see.How many times were you almost cat-chow, and they had to shoot the lion? not with the camera? my advise to you, leave the LIONS ALONE!You can't control nature, Who do you think you are? I no longer watch Animal Planet because of your selfish actions and stupidity. From Tacoma Washington ...Scott

[scott quach]

Dave,you need to look at the big picture! Do you realize your ignorance is endangering lions? While you are filming this tastless show of yours, you are never in "real" danger are you? Try being out there with lions ALONE! Now, thats a film worth watching! What you are doing is playing games with lions for t.v. which will and maybe already has gotten lions killed. I know a little about film making, editing, cut scenes, bloopers etc, You only show what you want the people to see.How many times were you almost cat-chow, and they had to shoot the lion? not with the camera? my advise to you, leave the LIONS ALONE!You can't control nature, Who do you think you are? I no longer watch Animal Planet because of your selfish actions and stupidity. From Tacoma Washington ...Scott

[Anna Weaver]

Hi! I LOVE WILD ANIMALS i know alot of things about them and i am very young to! DAVE YOU ARE AWESOME TO ME! I love the new show so mch will Queen Cleo ever except you? Well i love lions SOO much it so awesome because they are really wild and its cool how tou know so much when i grow up i wanna be like you!

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I LOVE LIONS BYE YOUR BIGGEST FAN CJ!!!PEACE DAVE

[Priscila]

Hi! Dear Dave:
It's very nice to read again about you on your blog. Really I miss so much that you tell us your experiences with the lions.
It's too hard to say good bye all you has lived in this six months. respect lions and their behaviors, but it must be very glad to you to return with your family and your friends.