Seeing the Likeness

When we feel very different from someone, we have a difficult time relating to them, understanding them, and communicating with them. If someone looks or moves or speaks in a very different manner from us, we often assume we have nothing in common and may turn our attention elsewhere, to someone more similar to us.

But a funny thing happens when we take the time to try to find similarities of experience. When we realize that another living being has wants, needs, and feelings similar to our own, we begin to open up to this other and pay more attention to them. We find them more interesting, we begin to appreciate them more, and we are intrigued with knowing more about their life experiences. Before we know it, we find ourselves in a relationship with another being that we previously thought we could never connect or relate to. Perhaps this is true because we feel that if another living being has similar experiences to our own, they can understand us and perhaps we can even learn from each other.

As we begin to recognize that shared experience is a common ground between otherwise dissimilar living beings, we more readily find ways of appreciating, relating, understanding, and communicating, even across species.

There is a big difference between assigning anthropomorphic characteristics to animals and simply noting the similarities of the animal and human experiences of life. When we attempt to assign human traits to animals, we miss the greater picture and the rich source of knowledge that their uniqueness can add to our lives. On the other hand, when we notice that all animals and all people like to feel respected, cared for, and understood, we have a real starting point for relationships that can be mutually educational, spiritually uplifting, and a whole lot of fun!

We are always in relationships with people, animals, and things in our every day lives. It is through these very relationships that we get to know who we are. Teaching children about themselves through their relationship with a companion animal is a non-threatening way for a child to explore who they are as an individual and who they are in the greater picture of the web of life.

As they learn more about themselves, children can develop an understanding for how their thoughts, feelings, and actions affect their companion animal and the relationship that they share. As a child takes more notice that the needs of his or her companion animal are quite similar to their own needs, they are more likely to take responsibility for meeting those needs. They understand what that need feels like and how good it feels when they are cared for.

This greater sense of responsibility for a living being besides themselves not only prepares children for compassionate interaction with all living beings, but it builds a greater sense of self-esteem. From this self-image of great worth and interdependent relationships with all of life, a child can develop a larger view of their purpose and place in the world. Not only does the child benefit from this larger view of themselves, but everyone and everything in relationship to the child benefits as well.

Linda Rae
Partners 4 Pets: Building a Better World by Building Relationships