The Tao of Animals
I am sitting at my kitchen table at our vacation house in Vermont. I’ve come up for a few days with my editor and good friend, Adria, because our “guys” have gone off on a golf trip.
With no men home to worry about, we decided to take off and relax in the beauty and peacefulness of this beautiful state.
Adria is an animal person – as I read this to her she wants to know if I think she looks like an animal – nope. But she is a lover of all the furry critters that inhabit out world with us; so much so that she hosts a Facebook page called Animals Matter-News and has now launched a page for “Hamlet Hub” called Animals Matter’s Hamlet Hub. With over 11,000 followers and friends, her news items get quite a bit of attention.
There are stories about animals and their human friends; animals and the dangers they face from mistreatment by other animals - including the two-legged species; animals and their well-being and rescue from perilous situations. And there are totally adorable videos of our four-legged and winged friends from “childhood” to their adult years as they go about their daily lives.
The one most outstanding point for me – that which generates in me great appreciation for these gorgeous beings – is the fact that they accept life as it is handed to them. That is the thinking as shared by the ancient philosophy of the Tao. Accept and acknowledge the stages and transitions of life and then adapt and continue on our paths.
One of the most memorable videos posted by Adria was the beagle rescue project in which a group of folks took beagle pups that had been caged in an animal laboratory all of their lives and brought them to a park. These beautiful babies had never seen the sun, experienced the freedom of running on the grass or playing with each other. After being released from their cages they hesitantly began exploring this new environment. And within only a few minutes they were romping joyfully with each other.
Okay – this is not always the case, but it seems to me that our four legged friends have a life skill that we humans all too often lack; the ability to accept and acknowledge the transitions of life and do the best we can in the situation in which we find ourselves.
I have several friends who are currently dealing with major health issues. And each one of them has adopted the Taoist philosophy. Are they thrilled with these struggles? Of course not. But they are learning to accept and adapt.
Animals don’t try to change a situation; they use their skills and strengths to make the situation work for them – not against them. What a lesson they can teach us in acceptance – if we stay open to their message.
C.J. Golden, motivational speaker and author of TAO OF THE DEFIANT WOMAN, the award winning TAO-GIRLS RULE!, and the recently published REFLECTIONS FROM BEYOND, travels the country inspiring all with her dynamic spirit and vision. Visit her at www.taogirl.com and www.reflectionsfrombeyond.com