Thanks for Playing
Gratitude for the Big Things
I ask my animals, “What does it mean to be grateful?” “How do you give thanks?” and “Do you give thanks every day?”
Makia, the 15-year-young cat, says, “Being grateful is being aware of how things flow in your life. It is being aware of others and it is also being aware of the joy of the birds when they fly. It is allowing yourself to enjoy life. I am grateful every day for every part of my life.”
Serafina, the 10-year young cat, says, “Being grateful is saying to someone who hurt your feelings, ‘I’m sorry, too.’ It is that because maybe you did something wrong and won’t realize until years later that what you did was bad. That happened to me. I didn’t know it was wrong to jump on another cat when they hissed at me. Now I see I was wrong, too.”
Joey, the 17-year-young cat, says, “Every time I get my herbs, I thank my herbs and my doctor for making me well. When I drink water, I thank the water for supporting my body. I thank my food and the animals that give me my food because they may have suffered in the process.”
Bean the rabbit says, “I thank the air conditioning unit on a hot day and I thank Jim for putting it in the window. I thank the farmer who stopped selling rabbit meat at the Ojai Farmers Market because she made a decision that gives me much more peace. Thank you, farmer.”
Storm, the 12-year-young Aussie dog, says, “I am thankful for God that he created this world, and I am thankful for my mom because she gives me a voice, and I am thankful for people who listen to her and enjoy what the animals have to say because animals suffer, and if you listen more they will suffer less.”
Luca, the 7-month-young poodle puppy, says, “I am thankful that I have a life. I am thankful for my toys and green grass and sand to play on. I am thankful for play.”
Maia, wolf dog from heaven, says, “I am thankful for all the beings on all the dimensions that help people on Earth change the world. My advice to people is to be thankful for every day and your life as you have it. The more thankful you are the more help is sent your way.”
