I have quoted animals many times in my blogs . And each time they give me more understanding and solutions to problems than the combined wisdom of many adults .
Long ago when i was in mumbai i visited a friends house with a mastiff ( one of largest dog breeds easily capable of killing an adult human ) , a rottweiler ( responsible for maximum human fatalities ) and a boxer .They had it in their apartment and unfortunately i told them i liked dogs . But what i hadnt expected was their dogs which they had inside their apartment . I was sitting in frontroom and they opened the door where the dogs were kept . I was faced with three full grown dogs and one of them (i think the rottweiler ) came straight to me . Paradoxically i was only little scared . But it came straight and sniffed at my neck . I froze . Then the remarkable thing happened . It lay down on the floor in a submissive posture . And yes , i patted its belly .
If you know animal behaviour you will understand what happened . We both were trusting enough to expose our vulnerabilities . I exposing my neck to its sniff ( not to be tried :) ) was though unintentional was my way of showing my vulnerabilities to it . And in turn it lay on its back in a non -threatening posture ( see wolf behaviour in animal planet ) exposing its belly which was its way of reciprocating its vulnerability . Now the lesson ... As adult humans in any intimate relationship (not only romantic ) we are in two minds to expose our deepest vulnerabilities . Its risky . But knowing the risk fully well isnt it the best way to get the trust which is the basis of intimate relationships . Of course as humans some of us do betray the trust but still to make deepest bonds without exposing your vulnerability is difficult . Whenever i am self conscious to expose my vulnerabilities ( im as human as anyone ) i think about the rottweiler who taught me the lesson of trust .
Another incident comes to mind ..this time with lions ( no i didnt have any interaction with lions ) . It was in the book Born Free (my blog earlier ) in which there is Elsa the wild lioness raised by the Adamsons couple . Its a beautiful story which illustrates wild animals are capable of affection . Many lessons are got from their interactions but one chapter specifically caught my attention . It was when Elsa gave birth to its cubs . Though very affectionate to the persons who nurtured for a few weeks Elsa didnt allow them to go anywhere near her cubs but gradually allowed them to see the cubs and even handle her precious cubs . Sometime back when a close friend moved away due to perceived lack of attention from me for a short while i didnt have to consult anyone for an answer . For the answer came from Elsa . For her both her caregivers as well as the cub were precious . But when a new cub is born the cub has priority over all things in life at least for a short period . This possessiveness dilemma has applications in adult life where mothers get insecure when a new daughter -in law comes home (mother in law syndrome ) , also when a husband gets insecure when wife transfers attention to the newborn baby for sometime . So for such dilemmas the answer is simple .. learn from Elsa the lioness and give sometime and understanding ... everyones place is secure.
And no i didnt have a baby :) i just gave an example ....
Long ago when i was in mumbai i visited a friends house with a mastiff ( one of largest dog breeds easily capable of killing an adult human ) , a rottweiler ( responsible for maximum human fatalities ) and a boxer .They had it in their apartment and unfortunately i told them i liked dogs . But what i hadnt expected was their dogs which they had inside their apartment . I was sitting in frontroom and they opened the door where the dogs were kept . I was faced with three full grown dogs and one of them (i think the rottweiler ) came straight to me . Paradoxically i was only little scared . But it came straight and sniffed at my neck . I froze . Then the remarkable thing happened . It lay down on the floor in a submissive posture . And yes , i patted its belly .
If you know animal behaviour you will understand what happened . We both were trusting enough to expose our vulnerabilities . I exposing my neck to its sniff ( not to be tried :) ) was though unintentional was my way of showing my vulnerabilities to it . And in turn it lay on its back in a non -threatening posture ( see wolf behaviour in animal planet ) exposing its belly which was its way of reciprocating its vulnerability . Now the lesson ... As adult humans in any intimate relationship (not only romantic ) we are in two minds to expose our deepest vulnerabilities . Its risky . But knowing the risk fully well isnt it the best way to get the trust which is the basis of intimate relationships . Of course as humans some of us do betray the trust but still to make deepest bonds without exposing your vulnerability is difficult . Whenever i am self conscious to expose my vulnerabilities ( im as human as anyone ) i think about the rottweiler who taught me the lesson of trust .
Another incident comes to mind ..this time with lions ( no i didnt have any interaction with lions ) . It was in the book Born Free (my blog earlier ) in which there is Elsa the wild lioness raised by the Adamsons couple . Its a beautiful story which illustrates wild animals are capable of affection . Many lessons are got from their interactions but one chapter specifically caught my attention . It was when Elsa gave birth to its cubs . Though very affectionate to the persons who nurtured for a few weeks Elsa didnt allow them to go anywhere near her cubs but gradually allowed them to see the cubs and even handle her precious cubs . Sometime back when a close friend moved away due to perceived lack of attention from me for a short while i didnt have to consult anyone for an answer . For the answer came from Elsa . For her both her caregivers as well as the cub were precious . But when a new cub is born the cub has priority over all things in life at least for a short period . This possessiveness dilemma has applications in adult life where mothers get insecure when a new daughter -in law comes home (mother in law syndrome ) , also when a husband gets insecure when wife transfers attention to the newborn baby for sometime . So for such dilemmas the answer is simple .. learn from Elsa the lioness and give sometime and understanding ... everyones place is secure.
And no i didnt have a baby :) i just gave an example ....
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