Responsibility = Freedom (Lessons from a Dog)

Today’s word count: 771 words
Estimated reading time: 4 minutes 06 seconds

Last weekend I was lucky enough to take a little trip with my mother and sister to a small house in the mountains in northern Serbia, with almost no people around. The trip itself was amazing, but what made it even more magical and impactful for me personally was the number of animals and the interactions we had with them. From a couple of cats curling up in my lap on different occasions, to the little puppy that showed up out of nowhere and basically moved into the house with us.

The moments I shared with those animals left a big impact on me and made me wonder: what could we learn from our closest non-human buddies?

IMPORTANT MESSAGE: The puppy I mentioned earlier is in the photo bellow and is looking for a new home. If you’re interested—or know someone who would love to adopt her—please reply to this email! ❤️

___

P.S. There’s a poll at the end of this email—so don’t forget to exercise your right to vote ✌️

Quote 1:

“Animals are such agreeable friends—they ask no questions; they pass no criticisms.”

- George Eliot (English novelist, poet and journalist)

The first lesson I think is worth learning from our pets is that we should learn to trust other humans more often and try to see the good in the world around us. After all, it is the projection of the reality we have onto the world around us that ultimately becomes the reality we live in.

And then there is not passing on criticism. I feel we are all sometimes guilty of this. However, it would be wise to recognize it when we are doing it and to refrain from continuing down this path. Critique is rarely given and received in a productive and positive manner. Share it wisely.

Quote 2:

“A cat has absolute emotional honesty: human beings, for one reason or another, may hide their feelings, but a cat does not.”

- Ernest Hemingway (American novelist, short-story writer, journalist)

I was a dog person all my life. Then I got two cats, and let’s just say I’m not only a dog person anymore lol.

Cats are brutally honest and true to their nature. When they want to be petted, they come and ask for it. When they don’t, they leave. What you want in either scenario plays little role in their decision-making. Maybe if we too all tried to be a bit more honest with ourselves and with the world we interact with, our lives would be more balanced, and with that, happier.

Learn from the cats.

Quote 3:

“The greatness of a nation and its moral progress can be judged by the way its animals are treated.”

- Mahatma Gandhi (revolutionary, philosopher, advocate)

This is such a true indicator of the progress of society: how we treat those around us, and especially those no one expects us to treat well. Naturally, animals, who are more often than not at our mercy, whether we choose kindness or not, must live with the reality of humankind dominating the world. Even while we dominate almost every corner of the earth, we can still be kind and show compassion, care, and love for every living creature.

Be kind to those around you. Do the right thing.

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Love you,
Igor

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