“Animals are a window to your soul and a doorway to your spiritual destiny. If you let them into your life and allow them to teach you – you will be a better person.”,
said Kim Shotola and I say that if you have never loved and cared for an animal, if you have never felt a bond with at least one of them, then a part of your soul will always remain unexplored and un-nurtured.
Talking about a bond with animals, I am sure you must have noticed that children feel a natural love for all animals around them especially pet animals like dogs, cats, rabbits, some birds – it also extends to some domesticated animals like cows, goats, pigs, horses, donkeys, etc.
This is because a child’s brain is functioned to love unconditionally and their minds and thoughts are not yet adulterated with prejudiced thinking. Animals possess the same childlike capacity – to love, trust, believe, give and to extend unconditional love and warmth.
Why do all of us need to experience this soulful bond with an animal? Because they are known to be the oldest and most loyal companions to humans since times immemorial. You must have noticed that most of the Gods, especially in Hinduism have a special association with some animal or the other. It is a proven fact that animals are the best link between humans and nature.
It is also a scientifically proven fact that animals are good for our mental health as they are potential stress busters and can help people recover from serious mental issues like depression, anxiety, fears, phobias, etc.
Some hospitals encourage therapy where dogs, cats and even horses are brought in to meet the patients suffering from trauma, stress, depression, anxiety and many such problems. Animals like dogs are known to be protectors and the best guards for not only humans but cattle and other farm animals as well.
These faithful friends are not only the best companions but are also the best teachers as far as learning about profound emotions like empathy is concerned – which in turn teaches us the basic importance of co-existence.
When a human cares for an animal, whether it is your pet who is considered to be the part of your family or a community animal who stays near your house or workplace, you learn and experience a sense of responsibility and love which is beyond comparison to anything else in the world. Most people who have ever lived with or loved a dog know that dogs love their humans selflessly and never hold grudges. They adore you and wouldn’t think twice before risking their lives when faced with a threat to yours.
It is high time that we learn to be a bit more compassionate, empathetic and responsible for the animals around us. They do not have a voice to express themselves or take a stand for themselves. Let us come together to protect them and value their existence as much as they value ours. If you have never done this before, I would suggest you try to –
1. Feed an animal every day and look into their eyes and notice how you experience one of the purest forms of unspoken love.
2. Help injured animals by rescuing them, helping with their medical treatment, stopping someone from abusing them physically, offering them a bowl of water or shade in the scorching heat of the summers or during heavy rainfall or try to make them warm and comfortable during harsh winters.
3. Put bowls of water and bird seeds for birds and nuts for squirrels and observe them enjoy it while filling your heart up with love, warmth and joy.
4. Adopt and get a pet home – give a chance to at least one community animal to live a life full of love and care and watch your own life getting flooded with joys that nothing else in the world can bring.
5. Treat animals with respect, love and most importantly, with empathy. They feel stress, trauma, pain, joy, happiness and love too – just like us!
ALWAYS remember to treat everybody around you with kindness and love.
rakhikishore@gmail.com
Author’s Bio
Rakhi Kishore is a Radio Jockey (AIR Fm Rainbow), a Television host (Doordarshan), Communication Specialist & Personality Development Trainer, An actor in theatre and Bollywood and has always been a proactive animal caretaker.
