Lessons Learned from My Russian Tortoise
My Russian tortoise, Dio, is a rather wise soul. I named him Dio after one of the greatest singers in the history of Rock, Ronnie James Dio. He is about 20 years old, which is midlife for a Russian tortoise. Dio has been around the block quite a few times, with a chipped and beat up shell and sagging skin that is covered with crusty, rough scales. Before we found him, he had spent his entire life indoors in a box, chewing on and digesting artificial turf and never seeing the sun. Dio lives in our backyard now, basking in the bright California sunshine and feeling the breeze upon his face.
I have been studying and practicing yoga and meditation for a few years. As with everything in life, there are ups and downs with this process. I have learned quite a bit about life by observing my tortoise in his natural, outdoor habitat. I enjoy watching the way he simply takes life as it comes, apparently without a care in the world.
For starters, he sleeps until he is no longer tired. On some days, Dio will wake up at 8 AM, and on other days he will sleep until noon. Once he finally does wake up, he is never in a hurry to get anywhere. I pick him up out of his nighttime enclosure in the morning and ask him how he is doing. Dio looks at me with his kind and gentle face, then glances around our backyard, preparing for his daily activities.
This morning was bright and sunny. I set Dio onto the grass in the sun, with his food laid out in front of him (an assortment of lettuce and strawberries). He just sat there in the sun, partially within his shell, for about 20 minutes. He then finally shoved his head out from his shell, while stretching his arms and legs, moving them about ever so gently. It took Dio another 30 minutes to make a few steps toward his daily pile of food and dig in. Every bite of food was slow and deliberate, with Dio scanning the yard and taking in the sights while enjoying his meal.
When Dio was finished eating, he basked in the sun for another 30 minutes, before turning around and walking toward the other side of the yard, where he would frolic around in the bushes until he was tired of doing so. Knowing his routine, he will surely spend the next few hours soaking up the sun until afternoon comes, at which point he will pick up the pace and began marching back and forth along the concrete, then he’ll burrow into the dirt for the evening.
When it rains, Dio tucks himself within his shell and takes a rest. When the wind picks up, he retreats into the bushes. When my dog gets too close to him and scares him, Dio plays dead. He eats when he’s hungry and drinks when he’s thirsty.
It’s no wonder that Russian tortoises can live to be 50 years old. Desert tortoises can live to be nearly 100 years old. What’s most inspiring about my tortoise’s way of living is his lack of any sense of urgency. He just coasts down the river of life, not fearing anything and not expecting anything. He knows that he will get where he’s going whenever he gets there, and that’s good enough for him.
My tortoise is a constant reminder of the importance of slowing down the pace and being present throughout life. A good lesson for us all, I think.
J.S. Lender’s new novella + short story collection for young readers, Max and the Great Oregon Fire, is on sale now! Follow J.S. Lender on Instagram and on Substack.
Copyright © 2023 J.S. Lender
