How Being A Sensitive Has Helped Me Understand Animals.
PART 1
When I was a child I had a cocker spaniel named Honey. Honey was my only sibling for a year and a half, until my sister was born.
I loved to play with Honey and dress her in my mom's silk scarves. She was a sweet, patient and loving dog. She was also great with children and people in general.
Honey was my first experience with having a pet, and she was a treasure. I loved her very much.
Growing up, I was usually told, "You're too sensitive!", as if it were a problem or something to be corrected and dismissed. But, being told to change something that was a unique and ingrained part of me, was disappointing and sad. HOW do you change your heart?
The simple answer is, you can't. And you shouldn't.
It this violent world, with people hurting each other and animals on a daily basis, we need more sensitive people. We need them now!
I wish everyone could look at the world through a sensitive's eyes. How amazing that would be. Frightening for most, but truly wonderful in the end. To feel other's pain, is to begin to understand them and then we can begin to help them.
There are steps you can take to help you, and to assure your kids will grow up with a softer view of other's feelings.
Lead by example: If you do no harm and present a sensitive and loving approach to other's feelings, more than likely, your children will follow your example and learn to do the same.
Talk with them about their feelings and the feelings of others. Ask how something made them feel, especially if it was happening with another person or a pet.
Have an open heart: Treat others with understanding and kindness first, and that kindness will be returned to you. Even if others aren't receptive to you, the feelings you get, from having an open heart, will be more than enough. And knowing that you are giving this amazing example of positive behavior to your children, will be a reward in itself.
Be kind to animals, always: This goes without saying. But the way we treat animals is a perfect indicator of how we will treat people. Never talk negatively about your pets, or other's pets. Encourage your children to help with caring for your pets. Have them read to them, like they are the "mom" or "dad". This gives young children an unprecedented opportunity to feel important and loved, AND helps them with their reading skills at the same time.
Be open to opportunities to help others, and include your children: Volunteering at an animal shelter, nursing home, homeless shelter, or even helping others in your own neighborhood, are all rewarding ways to start.
LOOK for ways, big and small, that you and your family can help others, and then watch the way it transforms your life! Your sensitive nature and your kind and giving heart, really can change the world. We need more people like you!
PART 1
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| Me (at age 2) with Honey |
When I was a child I had a cocker spaniel named Honey. Honey was my only sibling for a year and a half, until my sister was born.
I loved to play with Honey and dress her in my mom's silk scarves. She was a sweet, patient and loving dog. She was also great with children and people in general.
Honey was my first experience with having a pet, and she was a treasure. I loved her very much.
Growing up, I was usually told, "You're too sensitive!", as if it were a problem or something to be corrected and dismissed. But, being told to change something that was a unique and ingrained part of me, was disappointing and sad. HOW do you change your heart?
The simple answer is, you can't. And you shouldn't.
As I grew up, we always had a dog as part of our family and eventually, guinea pigs, turtles, fish and a parakeet too. But our dogs, and all our pets, were treated with kindness and understanding. We were taught that animals are sensitive and should never be hurt or abused. And that they had feelings, just as people do.
I think though, somehow, I was born already knowing this. I'm sure many, many people feel this way. I just wish everyone did. And I think maybe, all children are born with this sensitivity, and the world just crushes it out of some of them.
The innate ability to feel other's pain, to sense when something is wrong or not quite right, to know that their pain is real, and feel that pain....this is being a sensitive. But, it is something to cherish and develop, not crush or destroy.
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| London at age 4, so proud of her "Kitten" artwork! |
It this violent world, with people hurting each other and animals on a daily basis, we need more sensitive people. We need them now!
I wish everyone could look at the world through a sensitive's eyes. How amazing that would be. Frightening for most, but truly wonderful in the end. To feel other's pain, is to begin to understand them and then we can begin to help them.
 |
| London and Alabama |
There are steps you can take to help you, and to assure your kids will grow up with a softer view of other's feelings.
Lead by example: If you do no harm and present a sensitive and loving approach to other's feelings, more than likely, your children will follow your example and learn to do the same.
Talk with them about their feelings and the feelings of others. Ask how something made them feel, especially if it was happening with another person or a pet.
Have an open heart: Treat others with understanding and kindness first, and that kindness will be returned to you. Even if others aren't receptive to you, the feelings you get, from having an open heart, will be more than enough. And knowing that you are giving this amazing example of positive behavior to your children, will be a reward in itself.
Be kind to animals, always: This goes without saying. But the way we treat animals is a perfect indicator of how we will treat people. Never talk negatively about your pets, or other's pets. Encourage your children to help with caring for your pets. Have them read to them, like they are the "mom" or "dad". This gives young children an unprecedented opportunity to feel important and loved, AND helps them with their reading skills at the same time.
Be open to opportunities to help others, and include your children: Volunteering at an animal shelter, nursing home, homeless shelter, or even helping others in your own neighborhood, are all rewarding ways to start.
 |
| London's 5th Grade Winter Pet Food Drive |
LOOK for ways, big and small, that you and your family can help others, and then watch the way it transforms your life! Your sensitive nature and your kind and giving heart, really can change the world. We need more people like you!
Now go out there, and be your amazing, sensitive self!
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| London (age 3) and Chocolate (age 7 weeks) |
UP NEXT: PART 2 Animals Are The Most Sensitive Beings
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