Entitlement

Hello beautiful moths.

I want to focus today's topic on animals, given that I am spending my life dedicated to them as a career. Due to that fact, it may make me a little biased when it comes to human-animal conflicts, but there is a certain aspect of humans' (well, most humans') attitude towards animals that both saddens and irks me to no end. Because of the privilege humans have through the evolutionary arms race, I feel that we have an obligation to ensure the preservation and protection of all things living on this planet, although those that hold the highest power don't necessarily agree or treat that statement as a pressing matter at the moment.

Humans have a twisted sense of entitlement to this planet. Humans set the rules, make the decisions for how Earth is to be treated, and how it is to be depleted. When did this theoretical hierarchy come to light? Where in the scope of time did humans lose their connection with nature. Humans see themselves as a higher being rather than a part of a living system, part of a cycle that, due to our ignorance, has been disrupted. We don’t respect the source of our food, but rather have become desensitized to the fact that we are decimating another species’ population to a point of excess. That’s the problem, isn’t it? Excess. We take more than we need. A pride of lions does not kill for sport, nor do they kill more than is necessary. They work together to capture one wildebeest or one water buffalo, in order to stave off starvation and survive another day. See, we have lost touch with the fact that we are a predator in the food chain. We are accustomed to going to the supermarket and buying meat that has been killed and processed for us. Because of that privilege, we are detached. We aren’t able to appreciate the work that goes into raising an animal, caring for it, and in turn sacrificing its life so that we may have nourishment. 

I went to the farm across the street from me today to visit with the animals, whose fate is grim. The pigs gallop around in their concrete pens, seemingly excited at my presence as they immediately approach me. I watched as some touched snouts with another pig in the adjacent pen, as if securing their bond with one another. Like two people standing with their foreheads touching, synchronizing their breaths. The biggest pig approached as I came near, perhaps seeking companionship as she was alone in her pen. I scratched behind her wide ears and along the curves of her snout as she grunted in satisfaction, even closing her eyes, as if comforted. It almost made me cry thinking of how sweet her disposition was, and knowing what her fate was destined to be as an animal of production. I saw in her eyes a being capable of affection, understanding, and fear. It hurt to leave her to such a life. 

After, I paid a visit to the cows, who had much to say in their melodic moos once they had seen me approaching them. It’s hard to deny that a creature so much bigger than us has a higher capacity for emotions. They all stick their large heads out of the metal barriers as I walk by, curious of my scents and possible motives. As soon as I put my hand to their strong necks, I am stricken by how powerful, yet seemingly harmless, these gentle giants are. The fur is comfortingly soft, and cow “282” (according to the tags attached to its ears) extended out its head as I supplied some, much appreciated, scratches. I offered them some hay that lay out of reach to them, which they kindly accepted. I found that being too close to them meant my shirt being licked, which I found quite hysterical the way their big tongues flailed in the air. Up close, they are just the most beautiful creatures, and when I looked into their eyes, I could see not just an empty stare, but a soul looking back at me. Not some mindless beast to be coldly taken advantage of. But rather to be respected. Leaving them with a handful of hay, I said my goodbyes. Until tomorrow.

Before I end this rant, I want to emphasize that I don't have anything against hunting or famers that raise cows to eat, as long as it's done in a humane way and every part of the animal is being utilized. What I do have a problem with are mass production farms or hunting just for the sake of killing an animal. It's all about respect and plain decency. 

Appreciate and respect all living beings, moths. xo

The Climb

I've dug myself a monstrous hole,

Out of which I cannot climb.

The deeper I go, the darker my soul,

I fear I haven't much time. 

The light is moving further away,

As I reach my hands in vain.

I kick and scream for some delay,

But I'm met with only pain.

Void of hope, I fall to my knees,

And touch my hands to pray.

Desperate to put my mind at ease,

To whom, I know not, I say:

I've lived my life as best I could, kind to those I've crossed.

Saving animals as Irwin would, no matter the risk (or cost).

I hope when people think of me, they remember only the best.

If only but a smiling Bri, as bright as lemon zest.

My love for you will never fade, wherever this journey ends.

There's nothing I would ever trade, in place of family and friends.

The light above is all but gone, I've used up all my time.

Someday soon will come the dawn, and out of this hole I'll climb.

Out of this hole I'll climb.

(b.m.)

Purpose

Hi all you lovely Moths,

It's been a whirlwind over the past few months to say the least. The number of posts I make is a direct reflection of that! So I say with the utmost uncertainty: I am back (for now). The seasonal change that has undergone within the previous weeks has altered the nature of my thoughts and have bred some pieces of work with an obvious dark undertone. Thus, this post will continue the pattern as we move into the winter months, but fear not, the colder days will cease come springtime, and so shall my lighter thoughts.

Onto the anticipated topic of the day: the meaning of life. 

*internal shudder*

Side note: No, I'm not referencing the Monty Python farce (although if you haven't seen it, stop reading right now and go watch, it is truly an outrageously ridiculous masterpiece not meant for the feign of heart).

Now that we've settled that...

One of the most existential questions ever asked since the beginning of time is why are we here? I certainly find myself wondering this very question on various occasions. Of course it's not something we as humans could ever possibly answer, but we can definitely give our best educated (or more so opinionated) guesses to give us some ounce of purpose, otherwise what would keep us going every day? The biggest and baddest in the philosophical world have taken a gander at their thoughts on this heavy topic. Arguably one of the most well known philosopher, Socrates, said, "the unexamined life in not worth living." To him, the most important thing in life is to continuously seek out new knowledge. He used the term "eudaimonia" which meant something along the lines of an ultimate happiness or healthy spiritual state.

Another popular thought is that the meaning of life is to serve, or care for, others around you. The Dalai Lama is one of the prime supporters of this notion, saying "our prime purpose in this life is to help others, and if you can't help them, at least don't hurt them." Just take a minute to imagine if every single person on this planet had this state of mind. Imagine how much peace there would be if we simply loved our neighbors and put all prejudices aside. Of course, that's just a fantasy because of the existence of something called human emotions, such as jealousy or greed. But hey, a girl can dream.

I know you're all dying to know what my stance is on this fun little subject. I can say that the previously mentioned opinions play a part, and I do agree that it is important to seek knowledge and care for those around you, but that's not the whole picture for me. What these fail to acknowledge is the idea that the meaning of life has something to do with our after lives. As I mentioned before, there is absolutely no way we can ever truly know until we die (at which time I am expecting to be thoroughly enlightened) so take this with a grain of salt. The introverted "old soul" that I am thinks way too deeply into topics such as this, and I am sorely convinced that there was a mistake made somewhere in the cosmic universe in relation to the era in which I was born (I would have preferred somewhere a little closer to the pre-modern age consisting of the most renowned poets and philosophers alike, but beggars can't be choosers I suppose).

Anyway...my popular opinion is this: the purpose to life is somewhere along the line of a test of the purity, or nature, of your soul. I want to believe that everyone is essentially pure at heart, meaning their souls are inherently good and they've just simply been corrupted on the outside by their environment, but the pessimist in me just doesn't accept that. Everyone is entitled to their own opinions about what happens when you die or where you go, and personally I do--or at least reeeeally want to--believe that there is a higher power that we'll answer to. Think of it this way: life after death is an eternity, and actual life is only ~roughly~ somewhere in the span of 90 or so years, which is a BLINK in respect to eternity, so there must be some immense importance to those short years.

Take education as an example. The four short years spent in high school act not only as a beacon for learning, but also as a baseline for your level of knowledge going into your college years. High school goes by with the snap of your fingers, yet it has a heavy weight of importance on how you will spend the next few years of your life. Furthermore, how well you do in your college years sets you up for ~literally~ the rest of your life moving forward. It seems crazy that your biggest decisions are asked of you during your adolescence when you don't know much else...............but it is what it is.

To sum all that jargon, the few short years of your educational experience act as a test, and depending on how well you do during those years, your life moving forward will be as difficult or smooth as you make it. In respects to the meaning of life, your life to what happens after you die is what your educational years are to your post-schooling life. If you live your life as best you can, being kind to others, helping those in need, appreciating the beauty in everything, then eternity will be just as kind to you. Life may seem impossibly hard and deteriorating at times, as though it's sucking the very marrow out of your spirit, but it'll all be but a distant memory when you find yourself in an eternal state of peace. It's then that everything you've gone through and survived will be worth it, and you'll appreciate every single struggle.

That, my moths, is MY meaning of life, what's yours? xo

Found

It's when I stopped searching that I found exactly what it was I had been looking for.

Let it come to you, moths.

(b.m.)