What did you learn from your pet?

[oak]

In my case it's a dog. Here goes,

 

1. Long daily walks in nature are mandatory.

2. Stretch at least 7 times a day.

3. Yawn at least once every hour.

4. Fast regularly.

5. Eat only when you are hungry.

6. Roll a little on your back every morning.

7. No resentments.

8. No need to think so much of tomorrow. Live in trust.

9...in progress

 

[Taomeow]

Great lessons.  

 

I've learned from cats all my life, and consider my grandmother's cat, who was 5 years older than me, my first taoist teacher.  Alas, I didn't absorb all of her lessons, only some.  Here's what they were:

 

1. A balance of freedom and loyalty is the foundation of all meaningful relationships.  If either component is missing, the relationship is shallow and strained and ultimately means nothing to you.   

2. Morning beauty routine should be brief but consistent.

3. Don't beg, don't steal, don't go without -- let your eyes tell them what you need.

4. Tomcats come when you call.

5. Kittens are to be taken care of with utmost dedication.

6. Enemies are forever.  If you hate someone's guts, they did something to deserve it.  Neither seek nor avoid a confrontation -- if they cross your path, fight, if they don't, forget they exist.

7. Love is forever.  If you love someone, they don't have to do anything to "deserve" it and can't do anything to lose it.  (If they could you would know better than to love them to begin with.)  

8. If it's careless enough to be within reach of your pounce, it's food. 

 

[oak]

11 minutes ago, Taomeow said:

Great lessons.  

 

I've learned from cats all my life, and consider my grandmother's cat, who was 5 years older than me, my first taoist teacher.  

 

 

Indeed. Too late in life I've understood Chief Seattle's words about life without animals resulting in a big "spiritual solitude". You do gain alot of wisdom from animals. It comes at a price it's true but you get the goods if you're attentive...

It came to my mind now this moment that I had with an eagle. I was walking in the fields completely lost in neurotic thoughts, too afraid of what tomorrow would bring and suddenly I look up and see this eagle in its calm, slow flight, owning everything, the immensity of the sky as well as the whole land. Unforgettable moments which wake you up from the human troubles.

[Taomeow]

57 minutes ago, oak said:

 

Indeed. Too late in life I've understood Chief Seattle's words about life without animals resulting in a big "spiritual solitude". You do gain alot of wisdom from animals. It comes at a price it's true but you get the goods if you're attentive...

It came to my mind now this moment that I had with an eagle. I was walking in the fields completely lost in neurotic thoughts, too afraid of what tomorrow would bring and suddenly I look up and see this eagle in its calm, slow flight, owning everything, the immensity of the sky as well as the whole land. Unforgettable moments which wake you up from the human troubles.

 

Very true.  Interactions with animals, for people who are not too far gone into that "spiritual solitude," albeit different from interactions with fellow humans, have always, till very recently in history, been part of the human experience, of what it's like to be human.  Many find vestiges of that in pets, although it's still different from, e.g., what you experienced with that eagle.  (My grandmother's cat was not exactly a pet although she did have some advantages and disadvantages of that status in her life, but she was also a free cat among other free cats, roaming a countryside-like environment, hunting, exploring, living a complex and rich adult cat life.  Super healthy, never saw a vet in her life...  She was well over 20 when car traffic, nonexistent throughout her life, increased in that area, and one of those monsters got her.  She just wasn't used to minding cars, a late addition to her habitat.)  

Edited Sunday at 03:56 PM by Taomeow

[Apech]

From my cats I learned that the older you get the more bonkers you can be.

[oak]

1 hour ago, Taomeow said:

 (My grandmother's cat was not exactly a pet although she did have some advantages and disadvantages of that status in her life, but she was also a free cat among other free cats, roaming a countryside-like environment, hunting, exploring, living a complex and rich adult cat life.  Super healthy, never saw a vet in her life...  She was well over 20 when car traffic, nonexistent throughout her life, increased in that area, and one of those monsters got her.  She just wasn't used to minding cars, a late addition to her habitat.)  

 

And you will love her forever...

It is something new to me as I quite often accused people of loving their pets more than humans but now I do understand.

Just remembered one of my favourite songs which I'm going to listen to now

 

 

[Taomeow]

Cool cat song.   

 

A relative of mine is a veterinarian surgeon in Canada.  He doesn't just see animals in his office but if necessary he travels to help them wherever the mishap had found them.  He also had a local TV show at one point titled "My Pet Ate What?.."  (Some owners, especially dog owners, get mind-boggling surprises removed from their pets, like five pairs of underwear and the like.  Number one cat hazard is hair ties...)  I remember this guy as a kid growing up in a perfectionist, sparkling-clean-obsessed family, whose only pet was a turtle.  (Because no fur and no demands beyond a cabbage leaf.)  I didn't understand how a human can have an emotional connection with a turtle, but he did -- to the extent it shaped his career choice!   

[oak]

43 minutes ago, Taomeow said:

I didn't understand how a human can have an emotional connection with a turtle, but he did -- to the extent it shaped his career choice!   

 

I can relate to that as I still remember the turtles at home as a child and how the harmonious mandala-like shape of the shell fascinated me then and now still.

And of course the longevity thing, quite fascinating

 

 

[Nungali]

1. Honey is the best thing there is .

 

2. Keep the noise down in the day time, I am sleeping .

 

3. Don't bang the door ! I am trying to sleep right above it . 

 

3. Don't eat more than a  a few tid-bits of fruit during the day time .... you will wet the bed and it will run down the window . 

 

4. Yes you can see the baby  ...  as long as I get some honey to distract me . 

 

5.  I smell like  puppies and gum leaves . 

 

 

 (   any guesses  ?  )

[oak]

9 minutes ago, Nungali said:

 

 

 (   any guesses  ?  )

 

Tomorrow mate

Time for bed on my planet.

[Cobie]

44 minutes ago, Nungali said:

…. any guesses  ? 

pygmy possum?

 

 

 

Edited Sunday at 10:45 PM by Cobie

[Nungali]

Ring-tail possum (s)  . 

 

 

[Nungali]

I am cute when I get woken up  ...

 

 

 

 

The second time , it's a bit annoying ... 

 

 

 

The third time , now I'm getting pissed .... 

 

[Nungali]

Rare sea star  pet 

 

 

 

[Cobie]

23 hours ago, Nungali said:

… 3. .... you will wet the bed and it will run down the window . …

It was this!  Google said the Ring-tail is big. I thought a Pygmy preferable as producing less drip. 

 

Edited Monday at 09:12 PM by Cobie

[Nungali]

[zerostao]

On 5/4/2025 at 9:58 AM, oak said:

It comes at a price it's true but you get the goods if you're attentive...

 

 

I'd say it's priceless.

At the least, worth every penny.

It's also freely expressed naturally.

 

I thought about posting how I've observed a two year old tomcat consistently earn Merit. 

Or, a six month old calico, sense when I was accepting  rising earth energy and put herself in-between my ankles and participated along.

Enough experiences, lessons, to fill a book  

 

Yesterday, the one guy I hang out with regularly said, that my cats looked at me as God.

I said, I've never had God thoughts myself.

 

Today, I told him, I used that perspective though, to relate how a God  possibly loves creatures.

I think the 'cost' is accepting the responsibility and providing upright care.

And accept it isn't any one-way relationship. Indeed, they have a lot to offer and teach.

[zerostao]

Such as guitar lessons 

 

 

[oak]

50 minutes ago, zerostao said:

 

 

Today, I told him, I used that perspective though, to relate how a God  possibly loves creatures.

 

 

That thought comes to my mind so often...

Thanks for your post. Loved it 🙏 

[liminal_luke]

On 4/5/2025 at 7:30 AM, Taomeow said:

 

7. Love is forever.  If you love someone, they don't have to do anything to "deserve" it and can't do anything to lose it.  (If they could you would know better than to love them to begin with.)   

 

 

Some kids have all the luck.

[Taomeow]

Pet raccoons though...  if you do something illegal, they'll rat you out to the cops.

 

https://x.com/TaraBull808/status/1920186904835678319

[Nungali]

I'm pretty sure that was the raccoon's meth pipe .... smart move blaming the old lady for it 

 

 

 

[Sanity Check]

The way people value or neglect their pets.

 

Is a good indication as to their true character.