2018 Gratitude & Honoring

It's a fresh new year and as I sit here after my cat son Merlin climbed on my lap to snuggle, delaying my writing by 20 minutes or so, all that is coming to me are the words gratitude & honoring. I'm so grateful for my animal family, both here and in spirit, and I want to focus on honoring them and all they bring to our lives. There are so many ways to honor our animal companions.

If they are living, being present with them is so special. Truly being in the moment with them, not only when we are on our cellphones & watching tv, but taking time to look at them, connect heart to heart, checking in. Asking what they need. Sometimes they may drive us a little crazy running full speed through the house, meowing or barking. There is always a reason. Yesterday my cat kids were feeling a little bit of "cabin fever" because it has been too cold to go outside in their catio & playpen. My first instinct was to ask them to calm down, but when I stepped back & checked in I was able to feel this excess energy they needed to run off. So I adjusted my thinking and instead played more inter-actively with them, giving them space to chase a ribbon and these long leaves one of our plants drops-they love chasing them. I also set up their play pen in the living room and filled it with tissue paper left over from the holidays, to enrich their environment with new elements. They love jumping unto a pile of paper and chasing toys through it. When they ask for affection, or offer it, like Merlin just did earlier-if it is at all possible- drop what you are doing for a few minutes and give it to them/accept it. This always ends up lifting up our hearts as much as theirs, (if not more) and sometimes they are doing it for us more than for themselves!

We can also honor our companions who have crossed the rainbow bridge in so many ways. Thinking about them, talking to them (they can hear us,) keeping them also still present in our lives, realizing they are only a thought away. I love having their photos on the wall, and of course connect with them all the time. A kitty in spirit I communicated with wanted an oil painting made when her parents asked for ways to honor her memory. Whether in spirit or living, photos and paintings are a lovely tribute. I mentioned writing a love letter to them a few weeks ago. I am fortunate that as a photographer I have hundreds of wonderful photos of mine, but I also enjoy commissioning paintings. Hilary K www.hilarykart.com/who designed my logo included Merlin & Gracie Belle in it-so I see them on there all the time. I love the way she paints animals. Recently they were painted by Nicole Piar www.nicolepiar.com/who created the magical & whimsical Spirit Cats deck which I love. A few years ago we were surprised by wonderful neighbors who asked an artist friend to paint them. 

Finally, since this is my first post for 2018, I want to include my wish for this year. Last year I asked for us to change our language and stop referring to animals as "it" and instead use "he, she, them." And to replace words like "owner" with "guardian" or "parent," since we can not own another being. For 2018 I wish for us to expand our circle of kindness to all animals, including wildlife too. To be grateful for and honor what they bring to our lives even if it isn't always what we want. To honor the squirrels that eat the bird seed and find a way to feed/love them too and not chase them away. To honor the tiny insects in our homes and gently escort them out if necessary. And going even a tiny bit further and extending the honor & gratitude to the trees and plants around us. We are all so very connected and I feel strongly that 2018 is going to be a big year for us stronghearts to lead the way in transcending the species hierarchy and to showing all beings kindness, honor, gratitude and love.