Tag: dailyprompt

Cat people

Which animal would you compare yourself to and why?

I have a lovely drawing of lions hanging above my bed and by way of familiarity, I associate with them. It’s mum’s drawing from her art school days. She would have been seventeen at the time and displays her innate talent for life drawing. I have various ‘zoo’ drawings of hers including pen & ink and graphite drawings. She would go on to top art school on graduation.

It’s strange because my association with big cats seems to morph between lions, leopards and tigers for reasons unknown to me. Don’t get me wrong – I don’t pretend to be a ‘cat person’ nor do I mingle with the pride risking life and limb. Besides, in today’s rather liberated world, animal association seems harmless enough. There are numerous examples of this kind of thing in anthropology. For instance, ritual dancing in animal costumes exists in South India and Vietnam (tiger and lion dancing). And there are examples in movies such as The Wizard of Oz, The Lion King and Cat People. I don’t pretend to understand this phenomenon but maybe there is something we subjectively appreciate. 

Mum’s drawing depicts a male lion and a cub. What is the narrative here? The adult is protecting the newborn. It seems only natural. So what could possibly threaten the infant with it’s parent apex predator? As it turns out, each member of the pride has specific roles and adheres to strict survival demands. But how could this be? The male lion seems to waste his time yawning and lazing around all day and not appearing to do much. Maybe the occasional roar and then lapsing into soporific, pleasurable napping while the lionesses go out to hunt (what a lazy bum, he should pull his weight and do his fair share etc – by way of human association). Turns out he hunts at night and must conserve energy to protect the pride from threatening rival males. 🦁😸

Inspiration

What is something others do that sparks your admiration?

There is someone in my life who continues to demonstrate patience, passion and resilience as if from an endless spring. They manage the day to day stresses and trials that life continues to throw at them without shirking or complaining while showing kindness and compassion to those around them. They have done this for decades and continue to do so to this day. This someone has endured life’s hardships while showing gratitude with a smile. I have witnessed them experience the death of two husbands and more recently, cancer and hospitalisation at ninety. They battle on and inspire others with their tenacity and positivity, their ideas, their love and passion. They paint, they sculpt, practice craftwork – in many and varied forms – and sell their work in retail shops indicative of quality and take up. They have worked for the Red Cross, taught in hospitals and brought up a family. Asked whether they would do it all over again and their answer is ‘yes’ without question. This may seem a tall order but they don’t see it as such and they take it all in their stride. Yes, my mother sparks my admiration.

Kid at heart

What does it mean to be a kid at heart?

Reading stories, dreaming and enjoying simple things can be revealing. So too is the spark and special aura of certain unique individuals. They seem to have a wellspring of energy regardless of age. I have only ever met one or two of these in my entire life. They could be described as enlightened. But watch out for the fakes. They can mislead and shroud a troubled spirit beneath the surface. But some people really have a spark, a childlike energy that seems to set them apart. That wellspring of energy, that special something that has nothing to do with status, power or station in life. They attract everyone of course, including the needy, the troubled and equally, repel the narcissist or the politician. They seem immune to social norms, expectations and appear as outsiders. Perhaps we can learn something from them: we can take what we want – the life of an adult – and have the spirit of a child at heart. No, it has nothing to do with wanting and it’s not a shopping list. The enlightened don’t appear to want anything or need anything in particular. They just are.

Drifting off

What daily habit do you do that improves your quality of life?

The one thing I try to do each day is to experience an activity as if for the first time. For some reason this simple act seems to have a positive influence on me. Now, I know this may sound strange but it can be quite fulfilling if you think about it in different ways. While it is recognised as a form of mindfulness there are some instances that are open to interpretation. Perhaps a more straightforward example of mindfulness is to eat something sugary. You could think about the sensation of sweetness and aim to isolate the experience.

Another task could be the simple act of moving your fingers. Such action may seem trivial and simply time wasting (justifiably so given daily priorities and time constraints etc). But if you decide to partake it can be interesting. Remember, the ordinary and mundane were once extraordinary for the uninitiated child. Feel the sensation of grabbing a bowl or picking up an object. Try attempting to write for the first time. If this doesn’t grab you (no pun intended) try doing so with your non dominant hand. The unfamiliarity and lack of dexterity forces you to focus on the task at hand. The immediate feeling may be one of frustration but then again you may begin to experience a new sensation.

Try tasting chocolate with no expectation or as if for the first time. Now, this may be a tricky one because chocolate is known to trigger the release of feel good chemicals such as dopamine, theobromine and anandamide but hey, you didn’t know this as a kid (at least I didn’t). I challenge you to really taste it separating the cacao flavours from the sweetness component. Yummmm!

Another task is to follow your train of thought as you drift off to sleep. This is not the linear thought process of the conscious mind. The catch is sustaining some awareness without actually falling asleep:)

On the other hand you may find this so completely uninteresting that you are falling asleep anyway 💤