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How Pets Can Heal You

August 17, 2011 by
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My Fellow Students of Life,

I love animals! I grew up with dogs, rabbits, fish, and birds. I never had cats until my adult life. I adopted my black and white cat Benny from Mixed Up Mutts who partners with PetSmart. I adopted my tabby cat CeCe from The Arizona Humane Society. They are a joy to have in my life. More importantly, they’re a good way for me to get and stay grounded. If I’m having an ‘off’ day, I’ll pet one of my cats and immediately shift my energy. The focus is off of me and my issues and onto my cats. Before you know it, my troubles melt away and they aren’t important anymore.

Animals are such agreeable friends – they ask no questions, they pass no criticisms. ~George Eliot

An animal’s eyes have the power to speak a great language. ~Martin Buber

Animals have these advantages over man: they never hear the clock strike, they die without any idea of death, they have no theologians to instruct them, their last moments are not disturbed by unwelcome and unpleasant ceremonies, their funerals cost them nothing, and no one starts lawsuits over their wills. ~Voltaire, letter to Count Schomberg, 31 August 1769

It often happens that a man is more humanely related to a cat or dog than to any human being. ~Henry David Thoreau

If you’d like to get a pet, consider adopting an animal from your local animal shelter. They usually hold special events to promote the adoption of animals from shelters — some accept donations in lieu of an adoption fee. It’s a win-win situation! All shelter animals deserve loving, forever homes. Adopt one today and watch how your new friend will add joy to your life. Adopting a pet can be a life saver in more ways than one.

Rebecca

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How Pets Can Teach Us Empathy

July 22, 2008 by

Pets are great companions and teachers. They love us unconditionally just as we are and do not expect us to change. One lesson pets teach us is empathy. The following excerpt is from Buzzle.com: “In one study, we found that 3- and 4-year-olds with pets were better able to understand the feelings of other children than those without pets,” Poresky says. He also says there are life lessons to be learned from taking responsibility for a pet. “A dog or cat won’t always do what the child wants them to do, and that can be very important,” he says. “This helps kids learn that there are other perspectives and ways of looking at things.”

Perhaps the world would be a better place if all of us were given a pet to care for when we were kids. Studies show that children who are given pets learn how to understand the feelings of others, learn responsibility, and life from different perspectives. They also learn loyalty and how to selflessly give of themselves. Sometimes these lessons need to be re-learned when we become adults.

My kitten Salem taught me how to practice non-judgment and empathy. Even though his life was short, he will always be with me. Salem had a rough start in life. God only knows how long he sat on the patio of the first floor apartment that is below me. He probably was there at three weeks old; I took him in when he was five weeks old. It was not easy for the both us. The poor thing had issues and so did I. [Read more…]

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The Secret Healing Power of Pets

June 4, 2008 by

Oprah’s Soul Series can be the first step you take to begin your journey of personal transformation. Each week, Oprah will sit down with leaders in the area of spiritual thinking. Various spiritual teachers and authors share their insights about matters of the soul. Oprah shares her own insights into her own life with listeners who are encouraged to “reflect on their own spiritual journeys.

Recently, Oprah sat down with Eckhart Tolle author of “The Power of Now” and “A New Earth,” to speak about “the power of living in the moment and about discovering your life’s purpose.” Eckhart mentioned how millions of people love their pets. He said this “is the only area where people realize they can relate and communicate to another being and that being is not judging them.” Pets will love you unconditionally. Eckhart is correct, pets love you know matter your circumstance or look. It does not matter if you are tall, short, thin, or fat. Your race and religion is not a factor. Whether you are rich and famous or not so rich and famous is of no concern to your pet. The list is endless. A pet is one the greatest and truest friends a person can have.

According to Tolle “people communicate and relate to their pets and experience a sense of freedom because they are not being judged. Animals are at a state prior to thinking; they are a simple, natural presence. When a human being is there, the human has moved beyond thinking and that’s the state of awareness. Both states are free of definitions and judgments.” Isn’t this the truth!

When we are with our pets we can be ourselves. No need to “wear a mask” or “false persona” to win over your pet. You do not have to flaunt how many degrees you hold, the kind of car you drive, or that you live in a multi-million dollar home. Of course, there is no reason that you have to do any of those things when you are around people. You could choose to be yourself. But, the ego likes to make its presence known.

Alas, in the end it does not matter how many material things you possess or how many times your written work was published. All of the egos out there are in for one rude awakening! Make a decision today to experience your awakening sooner than later. To purchase Eckhart Tolle’s “A New Earth” or “The Power of Now” visit Barnes and Noble. Purchase a copy today, start living tomorrow. While you’re at it, you may want to show your pet how much you love him or her by visiting Only Natural Pet Store. Fido may not need a new toy, but perhaps an all natural diet will benefit him!

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