Cape Verde: the inspiring words of a stray dog
So, last day in Cape Verde, and we decided to head to the beach one last time. White sand, amazing translucent, turquoise water... and a new buddy comes up, out of nowhere. He approached us as if he had known us since forever, his tail waving and such joy overflowing from his eyes! We cuddled him, and next time we know he's lying down right next to me, enjoying the sun. I put my arm around him, and said: "Isn't it too hot for you, standing directly under the sun?"
He yawned and stretched, before glancing at me. And inside his eyes was this limitless kindness, this almost supernatural sparkle, which amazed me. I almost missed it when he replied: "Don't worry, this is my home. I know how to take care of myself."Even though he was clearly a stray dog, he was well fed and his fur was shining, so I took his word for it. Soon enough, I noticed how he seemed relaxed but watchful of our surroundings at the same time. I asked: "Isn't it dangerous, to approach humans like this? Being a stray?" He rolled over to get his belly rubbed, his tongue hanging from his mouth. He answered: "It is risky. But then again, aren't there risks worth taking? Isn't the great risk of all, to ignore your own nature? And avoid acting upon it?" I agreed, and said: "But how do you know? Which people to approach?"
He slightly bent his head and frowned: "One thing I learned, is you can't control your surroundings. You can only hope no matter what comes by, you'll be able to deal with it."
He interrupted himself and faced the white sand, as if deciding if I was worth sharing a secret. A couple of moments later he looked me deeply in the eyes and added: "You see, every living being comes to this planet with a mission: to help elevate global consciousness. And you can only do that, by pursuing your own higher, individual potential. Ironically, the best way of doing that is following what inspires you and elevating others."
I gave his words a thought for a few seconds, and asked: "But how do you know you won't end up getting hurt?"
He smiled, and the kindness overflowing from his eyes hit me right in my heart. He said: "Don't you get it? It isn't about whether or not you'll get hurt, you will get hurt. Hurting points us the places within ourselves we need to heal."
I frowned, but he wasn't finished yet: "It's not about what you want.... it's about what you need. And what you need isn't always pleasant, but always necessary so you can reach your higher potential."
I reached out to his ears and gently rubbed them, the honey colored dog was way more wise I could have ever imagined. He closed his eyes for a second, enjoying the cuddles. Then, he added once more: "if you want to live a meaningful life, you must surrender to it."
I frowned again: "And how do I do that?"
He stood up, shook off the sand and said, before running away for good: "Trust. All you need to do is trust that life knows the way. And also, you'll need to trust yourself enough to notice the signs. Even when they reach out to you through a stray dog.
He yawned and stretched, before glancing at me. And inside his eyes was this limitless kindness, this almost supernatural sparkle, which amazed me. I almost missed it when he replied: "Don't worry, this is my home. I know how to take care of myself."Even though he was clearly a stray dog, he was well fed and his fur was shining, so I took his word for it. Soon enough, I noticed how he seemed relaxed but watchful of our surroundings at the same time. I asked: "Isn't it dangerous, to approach humans like this? Being a stray?" He rolled over to get his belly rubbed, his tongue hanging from his mouth. He answered: "It is risky. But then again, aren't there risks worth taking? Isn't the great risk of all, to ignore your own nature? And avoid acting upon it?" I agreed, and said: "But how do you know? Which people to approach?"
He slightly bent his head and frowned: "One thing I learned, is you can't control your surroundings. You can only hope no matter what comes by, you'll be able to deal with it."
He interrupted himself and faced the white sand, as if deciding if I was worth sharing a secret. A couple of moments later he looked me deeply in the eyes and added: "You see, every living being comes to this planet with a mission: to help elevate global consciousness. And you can only do that, by pursuing your own higher, individual potential. Ironically, the best way of doing that is following what inspires you and elevating others."
I gave his words a thought for a few seconds, and asked: "But how do you know you won't end up getting hurt?"
He smiled, and the kindness overflowing from his eyes hit me right in my heart. He said: "Don't you get it? It isn't about whether or not you'll get hurt, you will get hurt. Hurting points us the places within ourselves we need to heal."
I frowned, but he wasn't finished yet: "It's not about what you want.... it's about what you need. And what you need isn't always pleasant, but always necessary so you can reach your higher potential."
I reached out to his ears and gently rubbed them, the honey colored dog was way more wise I could have ever imagined. He closed his eyes for a second, enjoying the cuddles. Then, he added once more: "if you want to live a meaningful life, you must surrender to it."
I frowned again: "And how do I do that?"
He stood up, shook off the sand and said, before running away for good: "Trust. All you need to do is trust that life knows the way. And also, you'll need to trust yourself enough to notice the signs. Even when they reach out to you through a stray dog.
Vanessa G. Lourenço
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