Saturday, January 17, 2015

Selflessness

“Non nobis solum nati sumus.
(We are not born for ourselves alone.)”
~ Marcus Tullius Cicero On Duties 
 
One of the biggest things that owning an animal does for a us is to teach us selflessness.  Animals require constant care: feeding, bathing, grooming, exercising.  They get sick and need to be nursed back to health.  Animals require the gift of our time and our ability to observe and respond to their unspoken needs to ensure that they thrive and have a quality life.  In return for caring for our animals, we receive their loyal companionship and their unconditional love.  Horses are no exception and require a considerable investment of time.  For such a beautiful and majestic creature, they are surprisingly fragile.  For me, though, caring for River is a labor of love.
 
Growing up with animals as part of the family teaches children about selflessness.  Feeding and caring for a creature that relies solely on a human for its basic necessities is a powerful lesson in responsibility and of the gift of self that translates to how a child learns to relate to others in our human society.  And one is never too old to experience the powerful life lessons of caring for an animal.

As part of the larger world, as Cicero said so many centuries ago, we are not born to be an island unto ourselves.  We are meant to be active, engaged, and selfless members of a larger society. As we give to others (animals, strangers, co-workers, friends, family members), we also indirectly give right back to ourselves.  In fact, helping others has shown direct benefits to the giver's health!

So, today practice a little selflessness.  In helping others you will be helping yourself and making the world a better place -- one selfless act at a time.

 

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