Monkey Research and Evil Cats..so much KINDNESS!

I read a statistic the other day that said there are over 100,000 primates used in research in the U.S. every year. As many of us know, the conditions for primates is often less than ideal in these types of research facilities as these primates are often malnourished or subjected to conditions of maternal deprivation or worse like invasive neurological tests! Well, OK not much is worse than being without one's mom, but you know what I mean! 

I think that knowing these facts makes my most recent account of kindness even more remarkable because I met a monkey who has been involved in psychological research for years and taught me the most remarkable lesson on compassion. 

This particular monkey has endured many years of involvement in a rigorous academic research environment. However, unlike the stories we read in the news and the general understanding that monkeys who endure such difficult conditions must be angry or unstable in some way, this monkey was just the opposite. I have known this monkey, who I will call R.M. for a short time and she is remarkable; always so kind and thoughtful. The other day however was when I really developed an understanding of not only her kindness but also how much she retained from her time in psychological labs. On this particular day, I was troubled by evil cats rubbing there fuzzy bodies against my window and trying to gain access to my soul. This intrusion of cats led me to really freak out. However, at the height of my panic R.M. intervened in only the way that those of the animal kingdom can. She caused the cats to retreat from the window to my soul and reassured me that we all have fears that may seem illogical to others. She reiterated that I should not be embarrassed of my dramatic reaction. She told me a story about one time in her lab when she was really scared by an invasive procedure which seemed silly to her more seasoned primate counterparts. She went on to tell me about her research involvement not only on compassion to others, but on self-compassion. Self-compassion what a concept! In that moment I learned that I must not be to critical of myself and my responses to stimuli which much like my primate friend R.M. have been shaped by past negative experiences. Change what you can, accept what you cannot and learn to like yourself anyways!

the kindness of the rabbit

I think it's common to associate rabbits with luck. Often it is the rabbit's foot which is seen as a source of good luck; so I am not sure what I did to be rewarded with the good fortune to have met a most lovely and kind rabbit. I met this rabbit about a year and a half ago and in a number of ways I have been lucky to have her play a part in making my life beter. Not only are rabbits associated with luck, but according to Chinese astrology the rabbit represents hope; I think that hope is the greatest gift that this particular rabbit has given me. When I meet with this rabbit, in the beautiful fields of this town, I often experience a renewed sense of hope in terms of appreciating what I am capable of and the promise my life can hold. Although I have had the good fortune of having a number of suppotive animals in my life, I think that what this rabbit has provided me with is, not only, a more explicit declaration of hope, which is exciting, but this rabbit also helps to educate and empower me so that I can carry this hope and build upon it for myself. Sustaining and building on this hope may be, at times, difficult without my rabbit, but thankfully I feel that this rabbit has helped me develop tools to be able to maintain hope and continue in building on this postive vision for my life. When I was young, I loved Bugs Bunny, but I have to say that I feel especially fortunate to have this rabbit as part of my life.

The Kindness of the Easter Bunny

It's that time of year again...yes, Easter! Aside from being the most religious of weekends on the Christian calender, Easter is also a time to enjoy some candy and this is exactly what I have been doing. The reason that I was able to fully enjoy these Easter treats is because I received a visit from the Easter Bunny, herself. Not only did she arrive early this year, but given my age and the state of my dental health, the whole experience was a real event. The bunny herself, appeared gracious and benevolent, leaving behind an Easter greeting card written in a foreign romance language. The bunny also gave reminders to balance enjoyment of her sweet goods with regular brushing and flossing and I appreciated her attention to typical requirements of daily living.
As I enjoy candy over this Easter seaason, I will recall the kindest of visits from my local Easter bunny.

The Kindess of the Biblical Songbird

The other day I received a gift from a songbird! This gift was a total suprise, but was just what I needed at the time and I am not sure how the songbird could have been aware of this if not for some type of devine intervention. Interestingly, this may have been the case, as the songbird brought me the gift of God's Word. This does not come as a complete shock, as in terms of biblical signifigance the songbirds are regarded as both reflecting and brining the truth of God to individuals. Indeed the songbird's peaceful songs are seen as reflecting social connections and conversations of love and truth. Generally, the songbird is not interested in sustained thoughtful contemplation that leads to the recognition of some truth, in an abstract manner, but instead is interested in real and obvious truth of God's love. Although I did engage in some reflection regarding meaning and truth after receiving this gift, it was clear through receipt of this gift that I am loved here on earth. Also, this gift from my songbird definitely illustrated the potential of God's love for me, if in fact I beleive in the power and plan that exists according to the kingdom of God.
As we approach springtime, I will continue to be mindful of the beauty and power of the messages of the songbirds. As well, I will remain thankful for the gift of this specific songbird.

The Kindness of Dolphins

Both the Common and Bottlenose dolphins are said to be very social animals. They are unlike colonies of ants who live in some amount of discord, in that dolphins help each other during times of hardship. I am fortunate to travel with a school of very compassionate and kind dolphins. Although we all work together to promote the wellbeing of dolphins who come to us in a less then optimal state of health, it is also evident that the dolphins I work with care about my wellbeing and are there to support me. Their kind ways were reiterated recently as I have been away due to illness and upon my return, I was greeted by many kind words and also a card expressing interest in my "speedy recovery". Like all "schools" of dolphins ours changes from time to time based on need of individual dolphins and seasonal shifts for example. I, myself, will be leaving this particular school once the summer season is upon us. However, I will always remember their kindness toward me both on a day-to-day basis as well as during relatively exceptional circumstances such as my recent illness.

The Kindness of Goats

Goats like pumpkin. Well I've heard it said that goats will eat anything, but perhaps they are particularly fond of pumpkin. If this were true then my brother would be no exception. My brother, Chad, is especially fond of a pumpkin cake that our cousin Anne makes. She was kind enough to make it one time when we were all getting together for dinner and Chad has reminded her of the deliciousness ever since. Today I was speaking to our cousin and she mentioned that I should let her know if my mom and I were sticking to the plan of going to visit my brother this coming weekend. If so, she wanted us to let her know so she could bake pumpkin cake and send it with us for Chad. I thought that this was a very kind idea on her part. Well, our cousin then spoke to my mom and the plan evolved. Our cousin may now be making the trip with us, in order to deliver her cake in person. I think that this would be very interesting and kind. I'm sure that my brother would be shocked to see her. So, from the kind words that my brother shared with our cousin Anne about her yummy cake, evolved this kindness that may see Anne coming with us! I am part of a kind and thoughtful family..how great!

the kindness of horses in Tim Hortons

Horses handle straw. They love it! Interestingly, yesterday I came across a unique type of horse. I think he was unique because he was into handling straws; the drinking variety, not straw, as would be more traditional. I came across this horse in Tim Hortons. I had just ordered a drink, and with my hands full was proceeding to a table. However, I had forgotten to grab a drinking straw. This horse kindly stepped out of line, where he was, and handed me two straws. This was a very kind gesture as it saved me from leaving my drink and walking all the way back to the front of the store to grab a straw. The actions of this horse were greatly appreciated. I think Tim Hortons should think about employing horses for this express purpose.

the kindness of the McMaster staff

I am a large Irish bull. This often causes problems for me in terms of my functional performance for daily activities. However, today I was lucky when McMaster staff called to help me out of my Irish Bull moment (i.e. making an absurd comment or mistake). I was trying to have my transcript send to the college of occupational therapists, but foolishly I had written the wrong address on my fax form. Staff from the registrar's office called to tell me that they had a different address and also that they had looked it up online and the address was different from what I had. How nice of them to call! I am one fortunate person. I asked them to make the correction and send it off. They agreed. They are so kind and I am one lucky Irish bull.

The Kindness of Dexter Cattle

I recently met some very kind folks. I use the word folks because it is kind of farm like and ranch-ish and that's exactly who these individuals were. If you will believe it, they were Dexter cattle...four of them! Interestingly, they were interviewing me for a job and true to their breed they were very inquisitive. There was over an hour of questioning about my thinking around theories and practices. Although, I didn't ask them, the word of the street is that they are all descendants of one breed that comes from Ireland and dates back to the 16th century. At any rate, all of this questioning was aimed at one very specific purpose, which was to see if I would fit in with them or could be moulded to behave in their ways. They asked me if I was easily trained. I admit, in some ways I have a lot in common with Dexter cattle, as I assured them that I pick up new things very quickly and am good at retaining information. Also, like them I am inquisitive and eager to learn concepts. I am also very hardy; just like them, which they saw as a bonus because it means that I am less likely to take extended sick leave. I've heard that Dexter cattle are also very good at calving young, which is how they put it. In fact that is the reason I am needed, or at least interviewing in the first place. You see one of their own is due to give birth and I may be called in as a replacement. That is, if they like me. By all accounts, we had a good meeting and they were so kind to at least show interest in me and my potential. They said they would let me know if my services are needed and I am hoping to hear from them soon. Either way, I would like to thank the Dexter cattle for a lovely time on their little farm.

the kindness of friendly elephants

I have been told that elephants have great memories and this is particularly true in regards to their capacity for recognizing individuals and building on complex social relationships and networks. For example, a herd of elephants relies largely on their matriarch to remember and enforce rules around daily activities such as where to retrieve food. When the matriarch dies the elephants in her herd grieve for her, deeply, remembering her as time passes. Although I do not have the greatest memory and no where near that of an elephant, I do recognize and maintain deep social bonds with a number of people in my life. Therefore, I was lucky, this past weekend to enjoy lunch with an old friend. Similar to that of an elephant, I recognized my friend approaching from a distance and anxiously ran to greet her. Also similar to our elephant counterparts, we sat and reminisced about old times; fun things we did in high school and our distant childhood. We were not able to recall every detail of all the adventures we had, but we were able to capture the spirit of the times and to celebrate the deep connections we had to each others lives. I was grateful for the opportunity to reconnect with this friend. Although we demonstrated behaviours much like those of our elephant friends, I displayed very un-elephant-like traits when I realized that I forgot my bank card, just as we were going to pay. Elephants never forget, but I tend to and at the most inopportune times! Therefore, I was also very thankful for the kindness of my friend, as she lent me the money to pay for lunch. I may forget a lot of things, but I will never forget her and her kind nature.

the kindness of breastfeeding mammals

A friend just showed me the greatest kindness. I am applying for a research-type job in the area of public health and this friend just sent me a myriad of information about public health trends and research. Much of the information was in regards to breastfeeding which I believe is the study area that I would be working in, if I got this job. I am very grateful to my friend for sharing all of her knowledge with me; she is indeed a smart cookie!I learned a great deal about the benefits of breastfeeding just from reading her message. For example, breastfeeding protects mammals against certain kinds of infections and illnesses. In humans, it increases the likelihood that a person who was breastfeed will have lower cholesterol, compared to those whom were feed with formula. Most shocking was the fact that breast milk changes as mammals develop, in order to ensure that it is always providing the proper nutritional balance. The wonders of breast milk! Therefore, I have concluded that mammals of all persuasions, who have mammary glands, show their young the greatest and most life-sustaining kindness by offering them breast milk. Thanks to my friend for this information and thanks to mammals of the world for having mammary glands!

the kindness of the paradoxical frog

Several years ago, I was fortunate enough to work with clients at a schizophrenia clinic and they taught me a lot about kindness. It may be somewhat politically incorrect or at least unsavoury to compare people who have schizophrenia to those in the animal kingdom. However, I think it is also an interesting and somewhat logical (possibly unremarkable) step to compare these individuals to the paradoxical frog. One one very basic level, the paradoxical frog is a nocturnal creature and to some degree, since humans are diurnal, we do not understand the behaviours of this nocturnal frog. What happens during those early morning hours remains a mystery to us and in this same way often the behaviour of those with schizophrenia is not well understood (and often not appreciated) by those who have not experienced the disease. In the same way that the paradoxical frog is a paradox, so are those with schizophrenia, in the sense that their experiences defy intuition or logical. For example, hallucinations and delusions are not logical experiences or thoughts; they do not make sense to the casual observer, who may be trying to uncover the rationale behind them. Using this framework or line of thinking, I think its fair to say that in general people with schizophrenia have some similarities to that of the paradoxical frog. But where is the kindness component? Well, let me tell you...kindness was abundant at this schizophrenia clinic. Before heading into this experience some friends told me that it would be a scary experience to interact with people with this type of severe mental illness. Although I did, indeed, find that some of their thoughts were disturbing or unsettling, the people themselves were not scary. In fact, they were some of the kindest people I have met. I think that one of the greatest kindnesses that these people shared with me was actually letting me get to know them and sharing some time with them. Obviously it can't be easy to be in the position of sharing some intimate thoughts or questions with someone new, who has just come in and is expecting to learn from these interactions, but these people did not let this stop them from confiding in me and allowing me to understand their lives; lives that were often not easy. By allowing me a glimpse inside their lives and their minds, I was able to offer them some assistance, under the guidance of my preceptor. Often this assistance was in the form of offering support with daily activities such as money management or learning to eat healthily. Other times it was talking with them and challenging some of their maladaptive thought patterns. These clients, or paradoxical frogs, would often greet me when I arrived into the clinic and we would share pleasant chats about what they were up to. The kindness they demonstrated to me in terms of letting me into their lives for a short time helped me learn a lot about people in general and not just those with mental illnesses. However, in terms of understanding mental illness, this experience did show me that people with mental illnesses are not people whom others should be be frightened to approach. Nor are they, as some people suggest, fragile individuals. Having seen what these people encounter and endure on a daily or weekly basis and the fact that they do so while maintaining a positive perspective, for the most part, and a semblance of typical activities counteracts the idea that these people are not resilient. In fact I believe this people are remarkably resilient and also very kind.

the kindness of the safety bear

Today I was the recipient of the greatest kindness. I was at an appointment at the hospital and I had parked in the parking lot where there are automated gates and a fee necessary to lift the gates. I was on my way out of the lot, anticipating that I would pay with cash when I discovered that the machine only took credit cards. Confused, I called the parking attendant through the little speaker on the machine and she informed that that in order to pay cash for parking I would have to use a machine that was back inside the building. By this point there was a line of cars behind me and therefore my attempts to backup were unsuccessful. I was in the process of getting out of the car to tell the driver behind me that I would need to back into the parking lot again when from inside the car emerged a gigantic safety bear, dressed in full attire, as if he were the fire safety bear I had been familiar with as a child. However, the closer he came to my car the more I realized he was actually a hospital volunteer bear, dressed in the issued vest and with the requisite name badge. The bear proceeded to tell me that he could use his volunteer tag, or more specifically the barcode on it, to get me out of the parking lot. He told me to get ready to drive away and not tell anyone, as he would be in a lot of trouble if anyone found out he was helping me. Without this kindness I would really have been in a situation! Thanks volunteer bear for your benevolent act! I won't tell anyone..hahaha!

the kindness of the sea lions

As a soon-to-be occupational therapist, I am somewhat like a young sea lion, learning to navigate within its natural environment. I have some knowledge and certainly a drive to succeed, just as a sea lion is driven by its instincts to ensure its own survival. However, I am not ready to be out there, in the world alone, searching for my own prey. Therefore, I was thrilled to find out today that more experienced and mature sea lions may be willing to take me under their wing, so to speak. They will teach me to hunt by fishing the prey out of the water and throwing it onto the beach. It will then be up to me to take the skills I have and disarm the fish so we may eat it and be nourished. I am enthused, as it has been awhile since I have been able to use these skills and this specialized knowledge. Hopefully with assistance from these sea lions, I will become an efficient hunter; a sea lion able to navigate on my own. Until then I am grateful for the help these sea lions are offering to me.

the kindness of the bats

Yesterday I ate lunch with two lovely bats. We approached the meal being very hungry and like typical bats, I assumed they would eat one-third of their body weight. In order to fit in, I attempted to do the same but came up short. Anyways, we had lovely conversation and just hung around, the way that bats do. Then unexpectedly, but kindly, they invited me back to their bat cave. I had never been to their new cave, so I was very excited. The new abode was absolutely lovely and I loved how they had made it so homey. I had a great time hanging out with them and am grateful for their kindness.

the kindness of the momma bird

Momma robins feed their babies up to 400 times in a 24 hour period. That seems like a lot of work and a big commitment on the part of the mother bird. However, I encountered a similar situation the other day and this made me realize that these mother birds are likely driven to perform the acts of feeding their young by some type of maternal instinct, which must be very powerful. In my own experiences, my momma bird, who is more of a grandmotherly figure, attempted to feed me large amounts of raspberry pie. Although I did not feel the need to ingest these sweets, momma bird was very insistent that I would eat the pie. I accepted the pie under duress, but upon reflection I realized that my momma bird was simply trying to ensure that my nutritional needs were met and she was doing the best she could with what she had. Therefore, I began to see the offering of copious amounts of pie as an act of kindness. Thanks momma bird for your kind attempts to help nourish me.

the kindness of the deer

Today I met with a most wonderful and kind deer. We arranged to visit over lunch and like all good deer (at least the ones in this hemisphere)he was content to munch on various forms of vegetation. After discussions regarding the inner workings of his four-chambered stomach, I told him about what was new with me. I talked to him about my apprehensions for the future and my previous pattern of unrecognized goals. He assured me, in the way that deer do, that change was possible and even imminent. Thus, I could put my fears to rest, as there was hope that events would unfold in a positive manner within my life. It is possible that today I came across the wisest deer because he informed me that I could change a great deal about my experiences and perceptions of the world, simply by changing my thought processes. Wow! I asked the deer how he had become so intelligent and he told me that he had studied psychology for many years. I was very grateful for his shared wisdom. I also sought comfort from the fact that this deer was actually using his degrees in psychology for good, as I have yet to find any real purpose for my degree in psychology.

the kindness of everyone

Friday was the best day of my life, as it was the day that I graduated with my degree in occupational therapy. It was a long and arduous journey, but as I reflect on it, I realize that this was far from an individual accomplishment. I relied on the kindness of many people to help me recognize this goal. In this way I see myself as a worker ant; industrious, but merely one of a larger colony needed to accomplish a goal. Ants are seen as just individual cells of a larger collective intelligence and in this same way I recognize that my working hard to receive my degree was just one element that had to come together in order to help me be successful. Without a larger social network of support, I would have died like a starving ant in the sand. As Julia, one of my favourite fellow ants, pointed out, it was I who had to write all the exams and complete all the placements, in order to be successful. Perhaps then I am like a guardian ant with a large head where much knowledge about OT is stored. However,I needed other ants to help create pathways and make my journey more accessible. Recognition that I am part of a larger colony of ants is valuable, as it helps me appreciate that I am supported both in achieving this goal and also future goals. The kindness of my fellow ants is much appreciated and being able to share it with them on Friday made that day even more special.

the kindness of the helpers

Today and days leading up to this one have proved to be days of reflection. They have been days of reflection because of the monumental events which are coming up in my life, namely my birthday and convocation. I have come to realize, through reflection that I would not be celebrating these milestones without the many people who have helped me get here. They take the form of family, friends, professors and other professional people. They have treated me like a precious and valuable species, one that is worth nurturing and protecting. They have guided me in my development from being a young and naive cat in the wild to a knowledgeable creature who can find her own way and help others find theirs. They have protected me from wild and uncontrollable elements of nature, and have often protected me from myself. I am very thankful for their kindness as I wouldn't have made it this far without them.

the kindness of the Australian Cashmere Goat

My favourite thing is to drink speciality coffee while wearing cashmere. So I was thrilled to receive a gift from my favourite shearer. It was a Starbucks giftcard wrapped in cashmere. Usually receiving cashmere fashioned into shirts and socks, for a reasonable fee, is a sufficiently kind act, but the shearer was so kind today to send me this gift for my upcoming birthday.