What we can learn about resilience from llamas, camels and donkeys

Resilience is one of those words you hear everywhere these days. But what does it actually mean?

For me, resilience doesn’t mean always being strong or breezing through every challenge. Rather, resilience means being able to adapt to new situations time and again, cope with change, and regain my strength after difficult times.

After more than 25 years in senior roles at a medium-sized company, I have seen just how important this skill has become. Change, new demands and uncertainty are now part of everyday life. At the same time, my husband and I have built up the Lama Oasis – a place where I am able to observe every day just how much we can learn from our animals.

Llamas – serenity rather than constant alertness

Llamas have a special ability. They are alert, but not frantic. They are aware of their surroundings without reacting immediately to every stimulus.

How often is it any different for us humans? A piece of news, an appointment, a change – and suddenly our thoughts are jumping from one topic to the next.

Llamas remind me that we don’t have to react to everything straight away. Not every change is a threat. Sometimes we can simply observe, take it in, and only then decide.

For me, this inner peace is a key component of resilience.

Camels – pacing themselves rather than constantly going flat out

Camels never cease to fascinate me. They are not sprinters, but masters of endurance.

They teach us something that is often lost in our performance-driven world: not every day has to be a day of peak performance.

Resilient people manage their energy carefully. They know when it is time to be active and when it is time to recharge their batteries.

Perhaps true strength does not lie in getting faster and faster, but in managing one’s resources wisely.

Donkeys – Being allowed to say no

Donkeys have a bad reputation. Yet they are extremely intelligent animals.

They don’t just start running simply because someone is pulling or pushing them. If something doesn’t seem safe to them, they stop and assess the situation.

I think we humans could learn a thing or two from that sometimes.

Resilience also means recognising your limits. Not every request from others needs to be met straight away. Not every additional task needs to be taken on. Not every appointment is really important.

Sometimes, strength lies in consciously pausing for a moment and asking yourself:

Is this really the path I’m on right now?

Recovery is not a sign of weakness

Throughout my many years of professional experience, I have come across many people who were incredibly dedicated. Often, it was precisely the high achievers who forgot to look after themselves.

Our animals show us something different every day. Activity is followed by periods of rest. Exercise is followed by relaxation. Nobody would ever think of criticising a llama or a donkey for that.

Why do we humans find this so difficult?

Mental health and resilience do not come about simply by doing more and more. They arise when there is a balance between stress and rest.

Nature knows no perfectionism

Perhaps the best thing about our pets is that they don’t expect perfection.

They don’t compare themselves to others. They don’t plan years in advance. They don’t pursue a career, and they don’t define their worth by their achievements.

And yet they are perfect just as they are.

Many people who visit us at the Lama Oasis, situated between Munich, Salzburg and Passau, say that they feel calmer after spending time with the animals. Not because all their problems have suddenly disappeared.

But because they remembered that life doesn’t always have to be perfect.

Perhaps that is exactly where resilience begins.

Not working.

Not in perseverance.

Rather, it lies in the ability to find one’s way back to oneself time and again.

And sometimes all it takes is a walk with a llama, the calm strength of a camel or the wisdom of a donkey. Why not book your Camel encounter.