cat tuesdays

for me, animals are healing.  in late 2010, as part of my healing process, i searched for animal shelters where i could volunteer my time, and, in turn, heal in the presence of animals.  my search brought me to PAWS  PAWS is an amazing organization, and i am so grateful to be part of it.  i started off as a fill-in dog walker and even brushed a great pyrenees for 3 hours one day.  i wasn’t asked to, but me and the pup were enjoying our time together and he looked quite dapper afterwards (he was adopted by a family later that day).

my regular shift, which i have had every tuesday since 2011 is at PAWS Cat City in the university district of seattle.  i’ve combined my love of animals and photography into something i can give back, each tuesday, i help with the care, socialization and adoptions of the cats in our colonies and, i also take photos of the cats available for adoption, these photos are used on their profiles found on the PAWS website as well as Petfinder.org

a good photo can make all the difference for the animals.  a photo can start the process of someone coming into to visit PAWS, the loving face and eyes of a cute calico, tabby, tortie, torbie, etc etc etc, can grab hold of the heartstrings and bring you in to see them.

every tuesday for me is “kitty cat tuesday” and so i decided to share with you some of the very precious animals that come through our doors and await their loving forever home.

i present to you, CAT TUESDAYS

say hello to dusty – the amazing one-eyed handsome man … stay tuned for more precious felines!

as of this post, this sweet man is still available for adoption

http://www.petango.com/Adopt/Cat-Domestic-Longhair-Mix-19923432

dusty
dusty is a one-eyed handsome fella who gave me full face headbutts as his thanks for my brushing him.

armor

you may not see it, but it’s there.

my armor.

a protection, worn especially heavy over my heart.

there is damage done that can never be reversed, but there is much left to give and share with those dear to me.

trust.  it takes longer now than it ever did before.

i feel too much for this world.  it feels as though i was born for another time, another place.  a kinder, more loving world.

there is goodness in so many, and i feel connected to it, to them, often times, it’s immediate.  then, there are those, that, for no reason known to me, judge (blindly).

then there is the factor of self, the armor doesn’t always protect the body and mind from itself.

there are people in this world that do not operate the way that i do.  i know this.  i’ve become more aware as the years pass.   pearl s. buck put it quite well:

“…a human creature born abnormally, inhumanly sensitive. … a touch is a blow, a sound is a noise, a misfortune is a tragedy, a joy is an ecstasy, a friend is a lover, a lover is a god, and failure is death…”

those that understand, will understand.  (sympathy)  those that don’t, but do care, will try to comfort (empathy)  and there are those that do not understand, do not try to understand, and make you feel like less of a person because of how you are.

my world became smaller.  not the “walls closing in on me” smaller.  a smaller group of those that i let in to my heart.  i have learned over the years that i can push myself and pretend, put the happy face on and act like things don’t affect me like they do.  but that is on the outside, and, on the inside, i’m crumbling.  so, i try, to find the balance of knowing that there are days that you have to push yourself, because, you just have to for your own good.  and then, there are days that you must allow yourself to be.

depression wreaks havoc on the soul.  up and down, good and evil.  the exhaustion from the ever present “not good enough, never good enough, don’t make a mistake, can’t make a mistake, everything must be perfect, don’t upset anyone, be perfect, do perfect, say perfect, always, no room for failure”

and so, my armor.  to protect, for the heart can only take so much.

the pain and hurt has made me more aware, more aware of what i never want to feel.  it still hurts when i feel the sting and makes me want to run and hide.  i’m not here to say how to fix everything and feel wonderful for ever and ever.  it’s never going to happen.  but, i try to surround myself with those that i can trust, let in and love.

my armor is there, always, but my heart is willing to love.