“I love the way you love life” – I realized this the other day when I came across some pictures of an old friend of mine whom I have not seen in a long time. Thanks to social media, I was privileged to have a glimpse into her life. Nature, animals, joy in her eyes and peace oozing from all her pictures…. The power of a photograph…. when someone’s pictures transport you right there, on top of that mountain, or by the shores of that lake, or even among the million sparkling stars of the Milky Way, that is powerful. I call that magic.
When I come across people who can capture pictures like this, I feel as if these pictures are taken with their heart, not with their camera. These people are able, in some miraculous way, to capture the feeling in that frozen image. Through their photographs, they teach us too, how to look at life in a different way. Through their eyes and heart, allowing us to experience the miracle of life itself.
Animals have the same power too, if you pay close attention to them and if you spend enough time around them, watching their behaviour. Moxie showed me this several times, she taught me how to see life through her eyes, the eyes of love, joy, and kindness. How is a dog able, in 5 seconds, without touching you, to make the corners of your mouth to go up in a big wide smile, when 5 other people tried this with you for an hour without success?
There is so much Moxie showed me just through her eyes, so many times: the sparkle of joy when she wanted me to play with her and forget about my worries, the gentle flame of love and care when she sensed I needed a hug, the peaceful gaze over the mountains when we went hiking. She also allowed all her favourite friends and people from senior homes and hospitals to see the world this way as well, she gifted them with joy.
At that time, I thought she ignited in them the joy of seeing her. What I now realize, is that she ignited the joy that every human has in their heart, but at times, we forget we have this inside. We bury it deep inside, unknowingly, piling up obligations, fears, judgements, lots of “should’ve”, “could’ve’ and “would’ve”, until we suffocate our joy. We leave no space, time, or patience for joy to emerge. Until something or someone comes along that helps us rediscover the joy we have inside, not related to anything else but life.
It is such a humbling moment when you’re able to bring that joy back up after a long time of darkness. It feels like you’re born again to a new life, to a new you. Once you’re able let the joy shine again, there is not going back. You want more of it, for yourself and for others. You want to experience it, live it fully and wholeheartedly and above all, share it with others.
Moxie opened the door to freeing my joy, and she made me understand how to open other doors and simply be curious about what is behind them. You never know, you may get a wave of unexpected joy.
So be curious, open your doors with courage and hope, let the joy flood your being and share your joy with others who need it. There is plenty of it for everyone.
Beautiful, beautiful, beautiful reminder it is within us always. Living from joy, living from the heart and the moment. Exactly as you say about Moxie, she is present she is joy and shines light on your, on our internal joy. Blessed be the life you love to live♡
May we help each other discover the true meaning of living life on purpose. It so happened that my dog opened the gate for me and taught me purpose 🙂 I am happy for your incredible, happy and blissful moments.. here is to many more moments like this!
There’s darkness out there and we know it because we trip over things, we stumble in the dark and it hurts. It’s only our ignorance, we are so stubborn dwelling in our emotions, in false truths, in our own misery and desperation we don’t even see the roses, let alone smell them. For those of us who are lucky to have opened our eyes and souls to the world of Moxie and Jade, my little yorkie…. Well, I think we indeed have experienced magic. There’s infinite love, joy, and magic in watching little Jade gently placing her favorite toy on your knees because she saw you sitting on the couch with a heavy heart and maybe tears in your eyes. No human thought of this.Thank you Moxie and Jade for widening our horizon and bringing joy and thoughtfulness and simplicity. 🌹
Thank you Adi for sharing this with us. And thank you Jade for bringing your mom and so many others (including myself) so much joy and so many smiles! The world stops somehow when we connect with the animal world and all worries are gone, at least for a while. I am very happy that Jade continues to warm our hearts with so much enthusiasm!