SAFE and SECURE

Watching the animals I think about safety and how it’s the initial necessary ingredient in any relationship.

Newborn-> mother; child -> parents; growing child -> teachers, friends and authority figures; spouse-> spouse; friend -> friend. Even animals respond to what they perceive to be a safe person or place.

One of my neighbors recently saw the deer lying under the trees on my property and said to me, “I’ve not seen them do this before. They must really feel safe at your place.”

When I thought back about it, it made me glad that over the past several years numerous ones have come to realize they are safe with me and feel comfortable enough to gather under my trees and just ‘be.’ I’ll peep out my windows and see them throughout the day just resting among the trees, doing nothing ~ but obviously feeling very safe and secure around my home.

I watch them squabbling with one another or sometimes observe the older ones grooming the little ones. I’ll see them share a nibble of corn or berries, and then take off running in circles through the trees in playful interaction. Then, more often than not, they all gather back around where the cabin lady is standing and watching. They communicate to me they indeed feel safe and secure in this space ~ to just ‘be.’

They appear to grow and interact in safety, at least here with me. The initial seed in our relationship was a strong and good one….it’s been tended well through the years.

Prior to writing my thoughts here on safety, I put them aside for several weeks and allowed them to simmer on the stove of reality. I then returned to my writing efforts acknowledging there’s also a perception of safety – a potentially dangerous and unhealthy place to live. Situations can feel normal and safe simply because it’s all one knows or has experienced.

Animals teach so much if we’ll take time to watch and ponder their behaviors and reactions. They have some great teachings on ‘safety’. It’s likely us humans may benefit from being more discerning creatures. The sooner perception and reality meet, the better.

“We have more to learn from animals than animals have to learn from us.”

-Anthony D. Williams 

“Some people talk to animals. Not many listen though. That's the problem.”

- A.A. Milne, Winnie-the-Pooh #1

“Take a deer, for example – they peacefully flow from one activity to another, searching for berries, fresh water, or just enjoying their surroundings. If you get the chance to observe this graceful creature in action, you will surely forget about everything except the present moment.”

- 10 Lessons We Need to Learn from Animals
- Power of Positivity

“You can always tell about someone by how they put their hands upon an animal.”

-Betty White

“An animal's eyes have the power to speak a great language.”

-Martin Buber

Us humans, in general tend to work too much and stay too busy moving at a frantic pace from one activity to another. Many times we work ourselves to the point we’re unable to even shut down and sleep. Animals relish in just ‘being’ and know how to rest unashamedly… they’re experts at being observers and soaking in the beauty around them. It appears they don’t allow a competition of ‘stuff’ in their environment. They are superb teachers on how to rest in their ‘safe place.’

- mountain girl

Cling to trusted friends once you find them

- mountain girl

 “While I know myself as a creation of God, I am also obligated to realize and remember that everyone else and everything else are also God’s creation.”  – Maya Angelou

"How it is that animals understand things I do not know, but it is certain that they do understand. Perhaps there is a language which is not made of words and everything in the world understands it. Perhaps there is a soul hidden in everything and it can always speak, without even making a sound, to another soul." 

― Frances Hodgson Burnett

Animals, nature ~ God’s voice, safety 

From a mountain girl’s heart

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