September 29, 2010

Wednesday Wisdom this week comes again from our kitty friend, Mija (with help from her human, Jean!) Catch up with Mija each Wednesday at Jean's blog, Two Old Horses and Me.

Wednesdays with Mija

We need 4 hugs a day for survival.
We need 8 hugs a day for maintenance.
We need 12 hugs a day for growth.
- Virginia Satir

One of the definite benefits of living with the two characters that take care of me is that I learn things from them.

They learn from me as well, but that's a story for another time.

As I sit in a lap, wander across a keyboard, or read the books piled on the desk or the things on the computer, I see quite a lot of interesting information.

A good example is the quote I included at the beginning of this post. There was a woman named Virginia Satir who apparently was very wise, especially when it came to understanding people. I'm pretty sure she had at least a touch of feline energy because she really knew about hugs.

How important they are.

She said people need four hugs at the very barest minimum, to just survive in the world.

Eight hugs every day to maintain.

And twelve to grow.

We cats knew this already. Most of us are excellent huggers when we choose to be.

People and animals need to be touched. It's a win-win kind of thing.

So please, go out today and hug someone. Hug everyone you see. To be hug-deprived is a sad thing, especially when it is so easy to remedy.

Happy Wednesday!

 

September 22, 2010

" 'Tis better to have loved and lost than never to have loved at all."
--Alfred Lord Tennyson
  

Our good friend Jean McBride over at the Two Old Horses and Me blog reminded readers on Monday that this week is "Adopt a Less Adoptable Pet Week" as designated by Petfinder.com.  Tammy also wrote a similar post at Vet Wisdom Café on Tuesday! A study done by this organization found that 30% of animals who don't get adopted at shelters are seniors.

I've talked with many clients over the years who are mourning the loss of their dear, old senior friend...a dog, a cat, a horse they've had since childhood.  The sweetest thing about these senior pets, they've told me, is how they've grown up and changed together.  During the course of their lives together, they've adjusted to one another, learned each other's habits, realized what each needed (and could provide!) for comfort and companionship.

Yet, when my clients were ready to adopt again, they chose younger pets.  Rambunctious puppies or a sweet, too-curious kittens.  Often, they expressed frustration that their new animals didn't meet their emotional needs the way their former pets did.  Yet, adopting an older pet, one who could almost pick up where the other left off, seemed to be out of the question.

Why?

Because they couldn't bear the thought of facing another loss so soon after the one they had just experienced.

If only we could learn to measure the value and impact of a relationship by the love that results from it, rather than its duration.

Old pets have lots of love to give and most of them don't have to spend years learning how to give it.  If you're thinking of adding another pet to your family, why not consider a senior pet? 

 

September 15, 2010

"There is no one like a dog for clearing the air of gloomy thoughts, and two dogs are even better."   --Dolores Stewart Riccio, writer

A few Saturdays ago, I was feeling a bit down.  My oldest daughter was back in college, my youngest was off with friends, and my husband was out running errands.  I was alone in the house, rattling around without much purpose to my day.

Sensing an opportunity, my Chesapeake Bear arrived at my side with not one, not two, but three stuffed animal toys in his mouth.  There was a squirrel, a tennis ball, and a leopard print something-or-other.  He wagged his tail and looked at me hopefully, as if to say, "Doesn't one of these toys tempt you to go outside to play with me?"

Hmmmm... I do sort of like that squirrel...

Before I could get up out of my chair, a white fur-ball rocketed into my lap.  With a bark and a wiggle, our little cockapoo Beau placed his front paws on my chest and stretched as far as he could stretch and licked my face.

Now, I really had no choice.  It was either go outside to play or be "dogged" about it the rest of the day.

We went outside.  I played fetch with Bear while Beau dug in the dirt.  Soon, my gloomy mood was gone.

By the way, I put the squirrel in my pocket. Hey, it's a really cute squirrel!

 

September 8, 2010

“You may be deceived if you trust too much, but you will live in torment unless you trust enough.”      ---Frank Crane

Not long ago, I came upon a stray dog who seemed lost and confused.  He was in need of human help.

I’m sure you’ve been in this situation.

Often, the dog will come when called, grateful for the attention or tempted by the bite of the sandwich that’s offered.

This dog was having none of it.

When I spoke to him, he looked away.  When I approached, he cowered and ran in the other direction.

He didn’t trust me.

He was tormenting himself because he’d lost his ability to open his heart, probably because he  had been deceived  more than once.

Trust is a tricky thing.

If you have too much of it, you’re bound to get your feelings hurt sooner or later.  But, if you don’t have enough of it, you’re going to miss out on the very things in life that may save you.

I learn a lot of personal lessons from the animals around me.  This situation reminded me that I am all-too-often a “stray dog”, unwilling to let those who approach me be of service.

It’s hard to accept help when I’m afraid…

However, when I have the presence of mind to replace my fears with thoughts and feelings of love---along with faith in the goodness of others---the entire world opens up to me.

This dog probably didn’t have a choice, but I do.  Torment or trust? 

If I don’t want to be a “stray dog”, my choice has to be trust.

 

September 1, 2010

"Wisdom is your perspective on life, your sense of balance, your understanding of how the various parts and principles apply and relate to each other.  It embraces judgment, discernment, comprehension.  It is a gestalt or oneness, an integrated wholeness."
---Stephen R. Covey

Okay.  I hear you...

This week's quote is a mouthful.

But, please think through the meaning of the words with me, as they apply to our beloved pets.  We may be on to something here...

You see, I've had many, many people (mostly non-pet people) tell me that animals are "lesser beings" because they don't really think through situations in a logical fashion like humans do.  They say animals don't see the "big picture" and therefore, never really understand what's going on. 

In other words, according to these non-pet people and Mr. Covey's definition, animals operate only from their instincts.  They may be intelligent, but they don't have a higher consciousness,  they aren't wise.

I beg to differ.

Every day, I see the squirrels in my yard comprehend danger when my dog is outside and use their judgment to run away (or at least scold him for his violation of their personal space!)

Every day, I watch my cat maintain a very delicate sense of balance, using his ability to understand that, when the various part of his life (food, water, sunshine, soft pillow) come together, he is One with the peacefulness of the Universe; he is happy and whole.

In many ways, animals possess wisdom about life that we humans can't begin to comprehend, precisely because they don't break life down into intellectual concepts like perspectives and principles. 

They simply live.

I think animals are the superior beings...