Comments on: Hurt and patterns. And a cat.

By: Karen

Karen — Thu, 24 Sep 2009 00:27:13 +0000

Jennifer, I’m sorry this happened to you. I hit someones’s cat on a rural highway a few years ago. I hit it dead on but it somehow ran away! I spent 2 hours looking for it or its owner, going door to door, but no one knew anything about it. It was a horrible, horrible experience and, as a result, I have zero tolerance for people who keep their animals free, outdoors. Just wait until *they* hit an animal and they’ll see how it feels.

Maybe “your” cat didn’t suffer very much; maybe it was in shock. I believe that kitty knew you were there for its last moments and that’s important. You did the best you could–that’s all you can do. The pain will lessen and, at some point, there will probably be something positive that comes out of it for you. I know I’ve made a difference for a couple of cats friends of mine used to leave outside. :-)

By: Jennifer

Jennifer — Wed, 23 Sep 2009 21:34:44 +0000

I know this is nearly a year later, but I just had pretty much the same experience today, and it (the experience and the emotions) have been consuming me today…
For some reason I googled whether or not the cat felt much pain (because I want someone to tell me that it didn’t) and I found this post.
I am so sad right now, not to mention 30 weeks pregnant which equals more sadness……
I just can’t stop thinking about it, and I will be haunted by this day for a long time.
I did what I could, which wasn’t much, but I did find a pet cemetery to take the cat and cremate it for free…and I stayed with him/her when she passed, instead of being like the other car who didn’t even hit a brake light. :(
It sucks sometimes to care so much, but I would rather be burdened with too much sensitivity and respect for all life than be some asshole who only cares about themselves and material things…
:(
On a good note, my son and I DID save a small turtle that was trying to cross a busy street a couple weeks before this. It would have surely been killed…and it made me feel great to watch that little guy swim away in the lake we found for it. :)

By: Karen Quatromoni

Karen Quatromoni — Mon, 24 Nov 2008 03:00:11 +0000

I saw a woman drive into a goose at a slow speed and its legs must have come off and it flopped to the side of the road and its companion was dazed (another goose). I went through all the same thoughts…

From:
what was wrong with this woman…to maybe she thought the goose would fly away like other birds and she didn’t know they are slow…or maybe she didn’t see it…she did stop…and make a cell phone call…and then I hoped they came to rescue it…and/or put it to sleep…and I couldn’t stop crying…and then I wondered if I was overly sensitive…or if something was wrong with me for thinking about the image all day long…or if it is because I have pet birds myself…but your post really helped…I guess I just have to process all the thoughts and feelings…

By: Havi Brooks

Havi Brooks — Tue, 07 Oct 2008 19:57:33 +0000

Wow, you GUYS!

You’re all so sweet. You have no idea how much I appreciate all the comfort and niceness you’ve sent my way.

Seems like so many of us have these “sensitive flower” moments and have seen so much pain of our own or other people’s. It’s so great to have the company. Thanks for that.

By: GirlPie

GirlPie — Tue, 07 Oct 2008 17:44:19 +0000

Man! You’re a wonderful writer, a generous teacher.

By: shelli

shelli — Tue, 07 Oct 2008 17:11:47 +0000

Came via the ever fabulous Juggling Frogs. She commented on my twitter post, whereby I saw a man leaving a vet’s office with a leash, and tears. I lost it for him, having been there myself.

there are no words, and I say a million Baruch Ha’Shems that I can at least feel. Even though it sucks.

Thanks for sharing.

By: michelle

michelle — Tue, 07 Oct 2008 16:34:02 +0000

Dearest Havi,

Thank you so much for sharing your process and the possibility of transforming the ways of the mind. Such a raw, honest experience – it’s so helpful to watch the unfolding of another way…

Big hug, sister.

xom

By: karenv

karenv — Tue, 07 Oct 2008 05:01:23 +0000

Thank you for your post, Havi. I’m finding the older I get, the less I can deal with suffering of any kind, particularly in animals. I’m sure I would have reacted the same way you did. That being said, I doubt very much I would’ve been able to articulate all the feelings and emotions the way you did. So, thank you. I think I’m wiser to “process” now.

By: Jennifer Louden

Jennifer Louden — Tue, 07 Oct 2008 04:21:51 +0000

Shit, that was just after we had lunch and then you came to my workshop later?? Shit, shit, shit.

I’m sorry you had to see that – so immensely wonderful how you wrote about your process. How inspiring and moment by moment real!

By: steph

steph — Mon, 06 Oct 2008 23:27:25 +0000

Aside from being upset (tears!) about the cat’s sudden death and the person not stopping (there’s no way they didn’t know), I am astounded by what I just read, that whole thought process. At first I thought, why are you rationalizing? What’s there to think? It was a horrible thing to witness and it’s so right that you are upset and grieve. Just let it happen.

But then I got to the end and thought, hey, maybe I too go through processes like this and I’m simply not conscious of them. Or maybe I don’t go through processes like this when they would help and it would do me good to become conscious of them or to put them in practice.

I often apologize for crying or grieving or getting upset, and it’s because I feel terrible that someone is having to deal with me at that time. Yet at the same time, I think, it’s all part of the process, and what could possibly be wrong with crying or being upset over such things? It shows compassion or vulnerability or sensitivity, empathy or sympathy, kindness or an acute awareness of life and death. Or all of those things at once. I think all those things are good.

You’re an amazing person, Havi. So aware. Thanks for sharing how to release.

stephs last blog post..Push Forward or Move Ahead?