What About Them?

Not all mammals go to heaven. Obviously, that’s only one opinion since some people believe they’ll see Fluffy or Fido in the afterlife. What about racoons or bears—will they be left out? It’s weird imagining everything on Noah’s ark, flying and running around heaven. But, it’s not too difficult to imagine monkeys lying beside tigers or birds hanging out with cats. They do it now. Somehow, they overcome their basic instincts, doing what “higher species” have a difficult time doing. Take a look:

                                      https://youtu.be/Mth49PbTbrY

 The key is exposure. The trio has been together since their early years, and there’s no reason to quit at this point. Unfortunately, people box themselves into categories, then erect walls to segment themselves even more. If a cat and bear can get along, surely, we can do as much. What people do you avoid, and how can you reach out to them now?      

Damage Control

What intrigues us about seeing animals wearing clothes? Maybe it’s because they look so darn cute, and yet, so wrong. It’s those two conflicting thoughts that keep our eyes glued on cats in dresses and dogs in pants. Animals dressed in clothes usually look uncomfortable and confined from living the way they were born to live. See how this makes you feel:

                                          https://youtu.be/0JFBjeWTMBM 

As you saw, no smiles there. The pictures were surprising, amusing, and sad, all at the same time. Don’t ask me how they got the elephant to do that, it probably took a patient seamstress with lots of thread. It looked, and probably felt, awkward.  What persona have you ever worn, knowing it conflicted with your true self?

Fact vs. Fiction?

A pair of glassy eyes studied me. No need to feel intimidated just because it’s the bustling city, right?  I stared back from the security of my car.  In the end, I won the stare down contest and the little squirrel scampered away. How interesting that once I spotted the critter watching me, I assumed it had horrible plans to chase me up the street. The citified squirrel probably came in contact with people more often than its skittish suburban relatives, hence its lack of fear toward humans. It probably just wanted a handful of nuts. How often do you jump to conclusions before weighing the evidence? What do you think about this scene?

                                         http://youtu.be/ECbvHQowmhE

Someone from the video commented about how the squirrel was a juvenile and may have lost its parents. Does that change your perception of the squirrel’s behavior? Maybe the little guy simply wanted to move indoors for warm shelter and gentle belly rubs here and there. We can’t take everything we see and hear as gospel. How do you filter information to ferret out the truth? 

Cage-free Living

Ostrich on the loose! If you follow the news, you’ve probably heard the story about the ostrich that escaped and ran amok through the traffic-filled streets of China. Unfortunately, the big bird was hit twice and caused several additional vehicular accidents. Every few months we hear stories about wild animals escaping from zoos, pens and cages.  When the door opens, why do they run? The obvious answer: animals prefer freedom. What would it mean if the doors opened and creatures stayed put? In some situations, it’s scarier to be outside of a cage than inside. Take a look:

                                          http://youtu.be/74O8TA3x9r8            

The guys in the video had a choice—swim or stay. When we feel trapped in difficult work, school or family circumstances, we have choices, too. We try to minimize problems with vacations, mood and mind-altering substances, hobbies or exercise, but those choices are usually symptom band-aids instead of a long-term solutions for the primary problem. What helps keep you stress-free regardless of your situation?