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Photo-heart connection: unconditional love from animals

Posted on April 2, 2014 by Naomi

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It’s time for another Photo-Heart Connection! Haven’t done it before? You can learn more about how to find your Photo-Heart Connection here. Kat talks about “making a commitment to connect art with heart” and invites anyone and everyone to add photography or artwork to the monthly connections.

“If having a soul means being able to feel love and loyalty and gratitude, then animals are better off than a lot of humans.” ~ James Herriot

We have two cats, Sammy and Mo, and they are brothers who we adopted from a shelter when they were 3 months old. That was almost 12 years ago.

They are a study in contrast. Whereas Sammy is always looking for a good time, Mo is quiet, nervous, and likes to be alone. Sammy likes one or two pats and then no more touching; Mo would be carried around in a Baby Bjorn if he could. When our daughter arrived, life changed for the kitties, but still, they brought us all closer together. Our daughter is attached to them far beyond what we expected. I’m sad to say that while I still regularly take care of them, in general my focus has been elsewhere the past few years.

Mo has been the one that I’m drawn to the most, and he to me. He used to follow me around everywhere, but these days he waits for my daughter to be at school or in bed for the night before he comes to sit with me. We enjoy each other’s company. And so, when I had to take him to the vet early one morning last week and leave him there for the day for a biopsy, I missed him. It felt to me like I had lost a limb or something else important.

I was taken aback by how much that day without him impacted my thoughts. When I picked him up at the end of the day, he was scared and I felt overprotective toward him. In the week since, I’ve appreciated him far more than ever, spending more time with him and making sure he’s ok, talking sweetly to him and giving him extra pets.

He has arthritis and high blood pressure, and giving him medicine for those conditions has been a minor challenge given his skittishness. Unfortunately, that biopsy was inconclusive, so I have to take him for a repeat procedure today, which I feel so terrible about on his account.

Being responsible for a human being’s care is quite labor-intensive and meaningful, full of spiritual lessons and growth opportunities. I don’t think caring for an animal can compare, but the sense of responsibility I feel for a life of quality and peace for these guys is still great. They give their love and affection so willingly. I aspire to do the same and to continue to earn their trust. My friend Harmony writes in a recent blog post on grieving animals that “unlike many humans, animals can offer us unconditional love, and the loss of that love can feel insurmountable.”

I believe that the souls of animals are the same as those of people. I believe that our souls choose when to leave our bodies. When his time comes, I will try to accept it and continue to be grateful for the time I had with him and what he has taught me.

Tell me, what do you believe?

Read other PHC March posts.

Posted in Photo-Heart Connection, Quotations, Spirituality | Tagged animals, cats, kat eye studio, photo-heart connection | 19 Comments

Listening to inner guidance: March OLW

Posted on March 31, 2014 by Naomi

I have focused on health this month, as well as connection and self-care. Much of what I am “doing” is trying to “not do.” Sure, I’m taking too many e-courses and have been traveling, but largely I am trying to let go, to be still more often, and to be gentle with myself. I decided early this month to lead my body back to a healthy framework. I’ll spare you my aha moment from a dressing room at Banana Republic and simply share that we bought a treadmill and threw out all our candy that same day. When my body moves and feels good, my whole self feels better. After three weeks of eating better and exercising, I’m 9 pounds lighter.

I know that our ability to love others is directly related to our ability to love ourselves. I believe that love is the answer to so many questions. I am more able to give love and compassion to others these days, and more able to view myself with those same eyes. One huge challenge remains: learning to love the parts of myself that I wish were different. I’m sure we all face this. Acceptance can lead to love and that can lead toward either change or simply letting go.

“I am not a hero if I deny rest; I am only tired.” ~ Susan McHenry

I’ve started a list of self-care actions in case, in a moment of need, I need some ideas.

This month’s prompt was to make a vision board. There is a light within that I am tapping into. I don’t know how to picture it or how I would represent it on a vision board. I honestly don’t want to make another vision board because I made this one for my intentions for the year and that feels like enough. “Cherish” for me means tending to my physical body, but more than that, it means quieting my mind and being still. It means listening to my inner guidance. I could never look through a magazine and find images for that. (Well, maybe a photo of a box of tea or a woman looking out her window, but you get the idea.)

There is nothing physical that could bring me the feeling that I’m looking to sustain. I’m searching for meaning, wonder, and inner guidance. Mentioned in this month’s Project Light Year: “It is impossible to be genuinely compassionate towards others if you are not compassionate towards yourself.” And this is where “cherish” comes in. I’m not allowing any negativity into my thoughts at all. If something pops in there that sounds like a judgement, I turn it around actively. Violence in Kiev? I immediately send a donation and feel that at least I’m creating light where there is darkness. Someone testing my patience or sparking judgmental thoughts? Practice sending compassion until I feel it myself. Try it… it works!

I’d like to share with you what came forward for me when I listened to a guided meditation recently:

If you’re interested, you can read previous One Little Word posts here. On Wednesday, we’ll be joining in another Photo-Heart Connection and on Friday, we’ll be talking about spiritual parenting. Have a wonderful week, friends! Thanks, as always, for being here.

Posted in Mindfulness, One Little Word, Spirituality | Tagged Ali Edwards, compassion, forgiveness, One Little Word, self-care | 12 Comments

Glimpses of seaside life, part 2

Posted on March 28, 2014 by Naomi

Today I’m sharing a few more photos from our trip to Florida. I hope you enjoyed Part 1.

Watching my 5-years-young daughter play in the sand was priceless. Her curiosity was contagious, as was her enthusiasm for collecting shells and building sand castles. This was a trip that I enjoyed for many reasons, but primarily because I loved seeing her embrace all aspects of it with such joy. She brings such light to others, and that is a gift in itself that I enjoy over and over again.

Posted in Motherhood, Photography | Tagged beach, children, Florida, Ft. Meyers, sand castles | 3 Comments

Glimpses of seaside life, part 1

Posted on March 26, 2014 by Naomi

I grew up in a coastal town, so you’d think I would be immune to the wonders of nature that these photos reveal. Not so.

I will never (I hope) cease to: be in awe of the way the moon influences the tides, stop in my tracks at the way the sun sparkles on wet sand, and bend down to feel the many varieties of shells at my feet that once contained ocean life. Being near water in any form brings me such restorative calm.

Today and Friday, I give you 18 images from our Florida vacation.

How about you? What do these photos evoke within you? Where do you find that sense of unending and powerful peace?

If you enjoyed these, please visit Part 2.

Posted in Mindfulness, Photography, Spirituality | Tagged life | 31 Comments

On wonder

Posted on March 24, 2014 by Naomi

We’re just back from a lovely Spring Break trip to the west coast of Florida. I took this photo on a sunset dolphin cruise. Such playful creatures these dolphins were! It was amazing, of course, and I loved it.

I was actually thinking this very thought when this came about: “It’s amazing to see all these dolphins swimming nearby but wouldn’t it be cool if one would jump out of the water? And even cooler if it would be over here, with the sun setting in the background?” And I swear to you, I am the only person who was standing right there at the back of the boat to marvel at and to capture that very thing. I sort of thought of it as a reward for the way I’ve been thinking lately… listening to my intuition, tuning in to my soul, living and loving from my heart instead of my ego or any form of selfishness. Perhaps I’m finally on the right path to be surrounded and filled with joy and happiness. I promise I’ll share more about this soon, but I tell you, it’s made such a difference.

Most of our time away was spent near or in water. My daughter took to the beach and the pool like she’d never left. It was wonderful to hear her joyful laughter as she swam, collected shells, built sandcastles, and spent quality time with family.

How have you spent the past week? I’d love to hear about it.