What comes to mind in the instant you find out a loved one has died? Today I found out that my grandmother died, and my first reaction was a flicker of love, just for a moment, before what had happened really hit me. It was a surprise, although she has been ill for quite some time, because it seemed to happen without warning and out of the blue. In an instance like this one is sad, of course, but I am also relieved because her quality of life has not been dignified the past couple of years ever since her stroke. When thinking about death, it always amazes me how the difference between life and death is so vast, yet the movement from one to the other happens so swiftly – in an instant, literally. It seems as though the transition from life to death should take longer than a second…
Monthly Archives: April 2013
Calm after the storm
0Have you noticed the difference between peoples’ reactions to things in the heat of the moment and then afterward as they reflect on what they were so anxious about previously? It is an interesting phenomenon…to see people so worked up over something and then the calmness that comes after – the calm after the storm. Some might wonder how they could have acted in such a way during the moment or had such an intense reaction. I think people are often surprised when they step outside of themselves and observe their actions, and I think this is such a case. It is kind of like an out-of-body experience when one steps back and observes themselves – was that really me?
Human touch
0Human touch is very important in life, and one need only go some time without it to realize this. Not only do we notice it’s effects when we don’t have it, its importance has been proven scientifically based on children who have not been touched or had much interaction with people at all. Children who do not have contact with a parent or caregiver who offer them their touch have substantial developmental and social problems. But human touch is important throughout one’s life as one gets older as well. Think about those who spend their lives alone without a partner or a family to speak of. I do not have personal experience with this, so I can only imagine how they must feel. I have been lonely though, and I think the lack of human touch would elicit a similar feeling to that of being lonely because it is essentially the same thing, even if someone who is alone does not feel lonely. This brings up another question – is it possible to be alone for a lifetime and not feel lonely? I really cannot say for sure, but I imagine not. I appreciate the human touch that I come into contact with, knowing that not everyone is lucky enough to have it or know what it feels like.
The Spirit of the Cat
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Cats have a curiosity that is unlike any other domestic animal, that I’ve had at least. In comparison to dogs, for example, cats are curious in a way that dogs just aren’t. They are not afraid and they get into everything. They are explorers, hunters, risk-takers, rascals, etc. Cats love to find the smallest space they can get into, and get into it. They like to jump onto a table full of things and sometimes display their agility and delicately walk around the pieces, and sometimes not. They like to get in your face while you’re eating, as they try to steal a nibble for themselves. They like to sleep anywhere but in their own beds. They like to drink water from anywhere but their own water dish (i.e. the toilet, the sink, the dog’s water bowl, your glass of water, etc…) They try to hide from you and get into attack position, even though you can see them as clear as day. They like to pretend windows aren’t there and attack them in hopes of catching that bird outside.
This has been my experience with cats, but I suppose, just like with everything, there are varieties of cats and not all of them are this adventurous. There certainly the fat ones that do nothing but lay around. But not mine, and I love them for it.
Even when we’re ok, we’re not
1Just because we may think of things in a certain way does not mean that that is the way they are. We often skew our perception of certain things that might be sad into a positive perspective to avoid feeling down about them. But this does not change the way things actually are. Conversely, we may think of things that are perfectly ok in the world in a negative way when really they are not. So how can we know if how we think of things is as they are, or if they have an entirely separate identity independent of our thoughts of them? I think it is rather difficult to truly know the distinction, and sometimes the difference can become blurred. So, even when we think we’re ok and things in the world are ok, they may very well not be.
gooollysandra 