Animals can be teachers and healers
Energy from one heart can make a real connection with another…and spread love in surprising ways
Shaking is a complicated thing—for me, at times, all-consuming. I’ve had a paralyzing fear of the kind of uncontrolled internal terror and shaking that I’ve experienced with panic attacks. Then there is the full-body vibration, like electricity coursing through me, during bodywork therapy that has not only evoked uncontrolled noises but eventually numbed my hands, making me feel as though…
I will get to the lovesick goat, but not yet. First, let’s talk about cat videos. A few years ago, I attended a conference on using technology for good. At a session about promoting citizenship through the use of the Internet, someone asked the speaker about YouTube. The man said, despondently, that half of YouTube was videos of cats flushing…
I’m happy to report I did it again…I completed the annual 60-mile ride for the American Heart Association for the fourth time! It was tough, but I managed to go the distance. And what a great feeling it was to roll past the finish line again this year, knowing I’d helped raise money for heart research. My own heart was…
On my 50th birthday I was presented with a little green box that could only contain something small and possibly expensive, like jewelry. Inside was a sparkly diamond in a platinum setting. I was surprised, to say the least, because the ring came from my mother. Included in the box was a handwritten note: My mother gave this to me, and…
When I tell people that my husband and I honeymooned at a chimpanzee habitat—the home of Washoe, the first chimpanzee to learn American Sign Language (ASL)—the reactions fall into two camps: Seriously. What did you really do for a honeymoon? Or: When can I go? I’ve been thinking a lot about Washoe (who, sadly, died a few years ago) and…
For thousands of years, people have had strong connections to animals and often believe they had special powers. Ancient Egyptians worshipped cats, while some Native American tribes thought eagles could deliver prayers to God. Such beliefs have been relegated to folklore, but animals have proven their talents and value to humans in many ways. Gorillas and chimpanzees can learn a…
