December 14 – Appreciate (Reverb10 project)

December 14 – Appreciate
What’s the one thing you have come to appreciate most in the past year? How do you express gratitude for it?
(Author: Victoria Klein)

Devotion. 

The life of this kitty-cat...she taught me so much. she was devoted to me and I to her. She was sincerely my constant companion and we relied on one another. She was always in the room with me when I was home. Always. She was patient and gentle sweet and wise. It is ridiculous that people how anthropomorphizing as something unreal when it comes to pets and emotions. 

It was only recently that a study was finally performed and we now now (go figure) that fish DO experience pain. The fact that they were not bashing their heads into coral for yucks, this was not enough. A study needed to be performed. Until then the accepted theory was they did not feel pain. Could it be that this was to profound for we humans to accept in order to maintain distance and responsibility for the way we treat. and exploit wildlife at every opportunity?

Of course animals feel emotions and express them, why they feel the ones they feel is as personal and varied to them as it is to us. Define love in a way that is acceptable to us all! Good luck with that. 

Nona was my dear friend. She is gone now. She is in my heart and experience and thus part of me who will remain part of some people who will remain part of others and we are all eternal in our ripples cast upon this great pond of life.

Nona was my teacher and life coach. She would nudge me away from work when I was stressed. Climb onto the keyboard and put her little hands on my chest and literally push me back in my seat. Crawl onto my chest and purr me into relaxation.

We were devoted. Me to her care and she to mine. 

I feel so deeply saddened by her death and gladdened by her life, feelings deepened by devotion. 

Sam's advice: Love the one you're with (and the rest too).