The Wild: When We, Too, Need to Play
03.23.24 | 29205
Do you ever feel nervous about spending time outside? Why?
When have you intentionally let go of inhibitions or restrictions? What possibilities did this create?
What have you done in your life that felt wild (either at the time or in retrospect)?
We as humans are, actually, animals. Does this change the way you feel in your environment?
Have you ever felt particularly in tune with your surroundings? What were you doing at that time?
In graduate school, I took a class on animality. We spent quite a bit of time discussing our relationship to animals, at which time my human-animal encounters were pretty limited. I didn’t have any pets, and the pandemic had created circumstances in which I didn’t really see other people’s pets, either. Occasionally, I would see a dog while out on a walk, and I would always smile at the animal as it made its merry way down the sidewalk, enjoying the experience of being outdoors in the fresh air, seeing the squirrels, and sniffing the path for traces of animals recently present. But I didn’t interact with animals much in my daily life, and I now believe that aspects of that class went over my head, or didn’t resonate with me as they could have if I had a better understanding of that relationship.
This fall, Dominic and I adopted a dog – our first-ever pet, a terrier mix boy who loves long walks, cuddles on the couch, and cheddar cheese. Spark Plug (aka Sparky) has been the most joyful addition to our lives in this new season. He brings energy to otherwise mundane moments of our days, and he is always happy to see us when we return home.
For the first time in my life, I feel like I have a true relationship with a non-human animal. I am one of his primary caretakers, and he depends on me. As a result of being in such close, everyday proximity to him, I feel as though my perspective has changed, even if only slightly, in a couple key ways.
Principally, Sparky encourages me to rest. Watching him lounge about on the couch nearly all day when we’re at work (I AM that person with a camera in their home to monitor their pet), and then lounge around in his dog bed at night, I find myself taking more intentional time to rest with him. We cuddle together often, and he always wants to be touched or held. That physical touch requires me to also calm my nerves, slow my actions, and be more present.
This all said, there is also an important second element to the ways Sparky has changed my behavior. Those who have known me for a long time will understand when I say that I was (and continue to be) a relatively serious person. I do not like icebreakers; I often get in my head and restrain myself from laughing too loudly; as a babysitter, I struggled to play with the kids I looked after, choosing to guide them through games instead of actively playing with them. But Sparky has been teaching me how to play. His energy is truly infectious, and instead of discouraging his excitement as ‘bad behavior,’ I choose to play with him instead.
So, nearly every afternoon after I arrive home from work, Sparky, Dominic, and I have some play time. We’ll rough-house together a little bit, and then we take a walk together, letting him chase the squirrels. And I truly feel looser, more engaged, and more in tune with my body by the end of this time. I am happier after getting in touch with my silly, playful side and moving my body. And I am reminded that I, too, am an animal. I, too, need to rest and play. I, too, need to let go of my inhibitions and simply be, sometimes.
How would you describe your relationship with animals? Have you owned pets, or only interacted with animals through other people? Do you find their energy tiring, or inspiring? Do you have other practices that help you get in touch with your ‘wild side’? I would love to hear.
Until next time, friends.