Strategies

Take Heart

It seems that the media keeps showing us a world that is becoming more and more brutal. In my practice, I have the privilege of meeting people who are expressing incredible love in their lives. Please know that you are not alone in your values of doing the right thing.

I once read a story about parallel realities, written by Richard Bach, author of Jonathan Livingston Seagull. The main character, Richard, is an airplane enthusiast and is in the process of restoring an antique biplane. He is in search of a part to complete the restoration. In his search, Richard asks directions from a person who tells him how to find the part he is seeking. The person explains that if he wants to find the part, he needs to go to a “crossroads in time”. At that time people had chosen to move in the direction of war or peace. These realities were being expressed simultaneously. Down both roads, Richard will find the part that he needs to complete the restoration. The choice that he makes will determine the reality he will experience. It seems that we all choose between parallel realities. The reality of most of the people I encounter in my work is the path of peace and kindness.

These people trust and follow their hearts. Their animals are considered family members and are given an equal voice in many of the decisions made. I hear so many great stories! Many of you will recognize yourselves in some of these scenarios.

• Feeding feral kitties.

• Being involved in the trap, neuter, release programs.

• Helping the neighborhood feral cat get medical treatment.

• Sneaking over to feed your next-door neighbor’s neglected dog (or horse).

• Walking a chained or fenced dog and, ultimately, adopting the dog.

• Noticing a starving horse in a pasture, finding the owner, purchasing the horse from them and then getting the medical care the horse needs.

• Rescuing a frightened kitten in a parking lot. Getting him to the help he needs, getting yourself the rabies shots required, and then adopting the kitten!

• Chartering a plane to fly your dogs from one location to another because you do not want them to fly in the cargo section of the plane.

• Keeping elderly horses for life rather than “trading” them and condemning them to a life of less and less care.

• Working tirelessly with a terribly frightened animal who will not come close – for years – until one day the person is able to make contact and over time trust grows and the animal becomes very social.

• Walking dogs at shelters, raising awareness of dogs living on chains, being politically active to support banning the use of circus animals, politically fighting for the rights of targeted breeds…

• I hear of heroic rescues of dogs on the side of the highway. Many people stop and help a stray animal and ultimately end up adopting them or caring for them personally until they can find them a good home.

• There are people helping injured chickens and pigs, recognizing that farm animals also have value as individuals with unique personalities. (For more on that check out Joan Hobbs’ blog at www.thechickenmama.com)

I encounter so many examples of compassion every day. I want you to know that you are not alone in your valuing of our animal friends.

When the smoke clears, we often recognize that the animals have stepped up and saved us as well.

As Rumi is quoted saying, “We are all walking each other home.”