Human ancestors' advice key to our happiness

I recently watched Isabelle Behncke’s Ted Talk on evolution, and how our closest relatives in the animal kingdom can help teach us how to live. The video addressed different species of primates, and how they interact differently amongst one another. One species in particular that can help show humans how to live was the Bonobo Ape. This species of primate were similar to humans in multiple ways, including sensual play and casual sexual interaction. They are also often bisexually active, and use sex between either gender to solve issues and put problems past them. However, one of the most riveting habits that Isabelle Behncke introduced was the Bonobo’s ability to come together through casual play. She spoke of how the primates used Play between one another as a form of introduction to new families, a stress reliever between groups, and a way to simply interact as a form of communication. Isabelle Behncke made a great point, that “Fun is serious business to these apes, and can be a way for humans to turn their way of life around.”

Overall, I thought that the article was both very insightful into human lives, and a lighthearted way to introduce a way of life that can benefit anyone who chooses to pursue it. In my opinion, play, in many sorts of ways, can help us to relax and retreat back to a more simple state of human happiness. Unfortunately, I also think that we have begun to lose the ability to play amongst one another as we have evolved. However, there are plenty of ways to play now, if people just accept that they are doing those things for the purpose of play and pleasant interaction. Music, art, and sports are some great examples, and those who actively participate will tell you the same. For example, when I am skiing, everything seems to be very simple, and the only thing that matters is the fluctuating endorphin rushes that keep me going. I believe that if everyone was to take more time to waste time, we would have fewer problems in our modern day societies.