Cooperation

I didn’t intend on writing today, sort of planned it to be an art day. I am working on a t-shirt design for my revolution and today seems like just the day to get going on it. However a dear friend from Canada sent me a video this morning, and I just have to share it with you.

Not having seen it before, I was delighted at this happy reminder to stop, look and listen to those around me, and not just the people, but the animals as well. It actually made me cry, the beauty of a simple act of kindness usually does. When I recognize the needs of others and am able to offer assistance, my heart is full, something which is so difficult for me to accept in return. Therefor, I suppose my reaction is connected to understanding the joy of helping others.

I think it is easy to misread a situation, if you are not paying attention to some of the details, or you just miss them due to a distraction or trying to do too many things at once. Whatever the reason, missing one detail can result in a misunderstanding. In this short film the human missed the complete interaction, being so engrossed in what he was doing. I’m sure this made it rather difficult to explain the arrival of the fish, but hey don’t question your good luck, especially if you don’t understand it….. Sometimes, we must watch and listen to the story told through wildlife to learn a lesson, and videos such as this make it easy to digest the importance of kindness – it is a choice. It was a great way to start the day in any case and I wanted to share, as she did with me.

When I went outside to sit in the sun this morning, my quiet moment was interrupted with the familiar sound of Mali barking at movement around the kitchen area. Having just watched this movie clip, the reaction of the human in the story fresh in my mind, I decided to pay more attention when I asked her to stop barking. Her reaction was to pace back and forth, clearly frustrated that I shhh’d her, and then she figured it out. She went and got her stick and wandered over to the kitchen area with it. It was kind of cool to watch this happen because it confirmed my thinking and that of the family, that the barking was her way of asking them to play. Over the months I have often been frustrated with how much Mali barks at the family who looks after this place. It was a little while before we understood she was calling to them – she was hoping if they came by they would throw the stick in the pool for her. So her barking was more hopeful excitement than warning. The kids picked up on this and obliged her whenever they were close by. Understanding is the best!!!

Not all the time however. When she is just upset with the activity, such as new people coming and going, rather than get in trouble for her continual barking after being told it is ok, she goes inside the room where she can’t see them. If the noise is really bad, she goes to the backside of the cabins where she can’t see or hear anyone, removing herself from the temptation of falling into a familiar habit. While it is her job to alert and protect, she tends to carry it a bit too far, a nervous reaction perhaps. But if she feels there is a possibility someone will play with her, she wanders over with her stick, grring all the way. Sometimes, in a situation like this, I have to demonstrate what she is after because they have never seen a dog jump in the water to fetch a stick. This fascinates and delights them most of the time.