Our Shadow Selves

Our Shadow Selves

Something happens to us when we love an animal.

How we walk, the tone of our voice, where we sit, when

we go out… how long we are away, are deeply

determined by the love between us and our pets.

Between us and anyone we love deeply!

Except “complete love” seems easier, more natural

between us and our animal friends than between us and

other humans.

Why?

Because our pets bring out in us qualities that few

humans do.

Because our human relations are marred by

judgements, betrayals, criticisms. Disappointments.

Deceit.

 Some tell me that their pets are the angels of their

better selves. And when that bond is severed by death,

the pain is bone-marrow deep.

“The light goes out,” grievers tell me, and we are

thrown back to who we were before we were uplifted

by their love and lives.

What we were, what we had become because of them,

is in danger of being lost.

They tell me they fear falling back to their less loving

selves.

Their “shadow selves.”

But can it be possible that the seer of the shadow self,

is now no longer the shadow self.

Animal love does that.

Human love aspires to it.

KS