Lessons from Salmon: Embracing Risks in Life
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The Journey of the Salmon
Each year, countless salmon embark on an incredible journey back to their birthplace—their natal waters—for the purpose of spawning. While this may sound beautifully poetic, the reality is that shortly after mating, these fish meet their demise. Their journey offers fascinating insights into risk-taking, even if they don’t consciously engage in it.
During their early years, salmon thrive in freshwater rivers and streams. As they mature, they venture into the ocean, where they significantly increase their weight in preparation for their return home. This phase of life is crucial, as it sets the stage for their reproductive cycle.
Salmon are categorized as semelparous, a term that refers to species that mate only once before dying. Typically, such creatures produce a large number of offspring, recognizing that not all will survive, unlike iteroparous animals like elephants, which invest in multiple pregnancies and provide care to their young.
The Life Cycle of Salmon
This unique lifestyle of bulking up, mating, and dying quickly showcases the remarkable adaptations of salmon. Their final months are focused solely on reproduction, leading to significant physiological changes. As they prepare for mating, they cease to eat, instead relying on their own body for energy. This process, known as resorption, results in the depletion of calcium from their bones and scales, causing their skin to deteriorate and their bones to weaken.
Males develop a distinct feature called a kype, a hook-like structure that aids in attracting females and competing with other males. In contrast, females focus on producing and carrying eggs, leading to significant abdominal growth as they lose internal organs to accommodate their reproductive needs.
The Transformative Journey
Salmon, adapted to the salty ocean, face a stark contrast when they return to freshwater. They stop drinking and begin to excrete large amounts of urine to balance their internal salt levels. To summarize, the sacrifices they make include organ loss, brittle bones, and deteriorating skin, all in the pursuit of fulfilling their reproductive cycle.
Despite the inevitable outcome, these fish exemplify risk-taking in its most natural form. While I’m not suggesting you should undertake a long journey for a fleeting romantic encounter, there’s much to learn from salmon about striving toward our goals.
So, consider taking a cue from the Pacific salmon. Embrace risks in your life—whether that means asking for a promotion, confessing feelings to someone you like, or pursuing that graduate program you’ve always dreamed about.
You know your own aspirations and interests, so follow them with conviction. The results may surprise you! You might find yourself climbing higher on whatever personal ladder you’ve set for yourself—or face rejection. However, unlike the salmon, you won’t experience physical disintegration.
The first video titled "How Does Broken Bone Heal?" explores the healing process of bones after fractures, illustrating the body's resilience and adaptability.
The second video, "What happens to your body after you die | The Stages of Human Decomposition," provides insight into the biological processes that occur post-mortem, emphasizing the natural cycle of life and death.