WORDLESS WEDNESDAY:
FEATHERS
*video*
Kisses & Chaos,
Alli Woods Frederick
WE ALL HAVE THOSE EXPERIENCES in life that have the potential to break our spirits, to create a downward spiral of hate, bitterness and despair.
WE ARE ALL DEALT crushing blows. Our loved ones die unexpectedly. We suffer abuse at the hands of others. We discover that those we love with all our hearts are betrayers of, not only our trust, but of the very love we freely give. We are cheated on, lied to and stolen from. We have all had at least one of these moments in our lives…some of us have had them all and then some.
BELIEVE IT OR NOT these moments provide us with opportunities. When these life-shattering moments occur we have a choice to make. We can choose to allow the experience to drag us down, to burden our souls and blacken our hearts. We can choose anger. We can choose resentment. We can choose bitterness. We can choose to destroy ourselves. It is the easy choice to make.
OR
WE CAN TAKE TIME to grieve, to feel, to process the impact it’s had on our lives and our hearts…and then allow the tragedy to lift us up, teach us and help us evolve into a more beautiful being than we were before. As trite as it sounds we can use our pain to grow. We can transform suffering. We can choose love. We can choose forgiveness. We can choose happiness. We can choose to heal ourselves. It is the more difficult choice to make.
I’M NOT GOING TO LIE. It’s not easy. The greater the pain the harder to rise from the ashes, but it can be done. It has been done. I’ve done it. I am doing it. And so can you.
GIVE YOURSELF TIME. Give yourself love. Give yourself forgiveness. And when you’re done give those things to others…even those who have hurt you.
CARRYING AROUND ANGER, hatred and resentment only burns you in the end. So let it go. Let it all go and allow yourself to soar.
I WAS A SHELTER CAT. My mom adopted me when I was a little less than 5 weeks old. My biological mom was gone. It was just me & my siblings – eating dry food instead of mom’s milk, infested with fleas (how embarrassing) & all five of us confined to a tiny little cage.
WE HAD no space. No privacy. No milk. No mom to cuddle with and give us kisses. We sat there, in that shelter, crawling over each other, mewling at the top of our lungs and being forced to, pardon the expression, sh*t where we ate.
THIS IS WHY we shelter cats so often freak out when placed in carriers and crates. We’re not trying to be difficult when we yowl at the top of our lungs, claw at the door like a man possessed or, heaven forbid, have *ahem* accidents. We’re not trying to punish you.
WHAT YOU’RE WITNESSING is a feline panic attack of sorts. We are, after all, designed to be wild and free. Confining us to a cage for weeks on end with no affection, no ability to roam or act like cats, especially if we are young and separated from our moms, is traumatic. Plain and simple.
EVERY TIME we are forced into a carrier it causes terrifying flashbacks of the life from which we were rescued. A life of forced isolation and loneliness. A life of not knowing if we will be saved, if we will be loved and allowed to live or be forgotten and left to die.
SO NEXT TIME you’re trying to wrangle your former shelter cat into a crate, please remember this. Remember how much we love you. Remember the suffering we went through and have a little extra patience with us.
You saved our lives and gave us homes filled with love…we’re just a little scared of those cages…and now you understand why.
PS – And don’t forget that almost every time we leave the house you take us to the vet. Do you know what those sadists do? Sure we’re afraid of the cages, but getting stabbed with needles and having thermometers stuck up your butt is no picnic either. I’m just sayin’…
PPS – Adopt a pet & save a life. We’ll be the best friend you ever had. Promise.
I WOKE UP THIS MORNING and did what I do every morning – rolled over, grabbed my phone and checked my email…and then promptly sat bolt upright in bed and started squealing. Why?
THE LOVELY & CREATIVE powerhouse Amanda Oaks from Kind Over Matter has published a stunning new issue of her poetry magazine, Words Dance and has included me as the featured artist. You have no idea how hard it’s been for me to keep this under wraps. I’ve wanted to tell you soooooo badly but I’m paranoid (what? who? me? how did you know that? who’s been talking about me?) and I was scared to death I’d jinx it. So I kept my big ol’ mouth shut – an undertaking I’m sure has earned me a special place in heaven since the powers that be know how hard it is for me to be quiet.
I AM HONORED to have my visions featured alongside such talented poets and artists. My birthday is Tuesday and I couldn’t have asked for a better gift. I’m over the moon.
YOU CAN GRAB YOUR OWN copy of Words Dance Issue 13 here for 5 smackers or you can pick up the Words Dance Bundle, a “ferocious poetry bomb…” overflowing with passionate words by passionate people.
THANK YOU, AMANDA, for adding to the beauty in the world and for including me in the process.