How do we live with our hearts open? How do we use what is within us to bring together all that divides us? How do we, like the fifth verse of the Tao Te Ching suggests, “…offer our treasures to everyone”?
And the Tao means everyone, not just those we love/like, for living with an open heart is all-encompassing. It is difficult to open ourselves to what a person feels when that person’s beliefs are so separate from ours yet abundance knows no separateness only wholeness.
It requires a larger vision whose origin may be right in front of us.
Often I offer the thoughts of Mark Nepo and Wayne Dyer but honestly, when it comes to abundance and unconditional love, I turn to beagle Cooper James and EmmaRose, a grey-blue dilute kitty of 5.5 pounds whose one word name was decided by a paw-press on the “Enter” key.
The three of us are an illustration of what was separate that is now whole.
How we lived before does not define us nor does it measure who we are. Those are years separate from us, now. As a feline, EmmaRose is 44, canine Cooper is 57, and as the human, I am sixty; what we measure is what we are together, and in that, our differences are minute.
Our one-bedroom apartment is all we need and in some ways, more than we ever had. EmmaRose moves about the apartment most, rearranging throw rugs, curling up in what have become known as the Blanket Mountains of the living room, playing pine cone shuffle with cones Cooper and I brought her from one of our fall outings. EmmaRose is not a traveler outside the apartment–she enjoys her solitude–Cooper and I provide her her time on a daily basis.
We all share the bedroom—the adjustable, queen-sized bed supports canine and human arthritic joints—EmmaRose’s preferred spot is on the computer modem that rests on the round, wicker bedside table, darkening with age. The table provides EmmaRose the perfect distance to meow in my ear—at least a couple of hours before dawn–if she has seen her reflection in the bottom of her food dish in the dark.
Like many canines, Cooper is food-motivated and as a beagle, he is indiscriminate in what he eats, resulting in a daily antacid prescribed by Dr. Mac.
When the three of us could still eat tacos without major digestive upset for the human and the canine, we each had our favorite ingredient: Cooper scarfed cheddar cheese shavings; EmmaRose preferred powdered corn tortilla bits; meat and lettuce were for the human.
EmmaRose has never noted the absence of our taco dinners but it has been hard on Cooper and me. About a month ago, we gave into our cravings and purchased one taco; Cooper wanted more, as always; EmmaRose was not in the mood for tacos that night; as for me, I cannot imagine a time I will want another taco ever.
Having food and shelter is something we have always shared amicably, perhaps because all three of us have been as close to homelessness as we ever want to be. For Cooper and EmmaRose, euthanasia was near; for me, life was a series of question marks for some time.
We learned to re-frame our lives, not looking back at what we no longer have nor looking to what we fear but rather through it, moment by moment—together. Cooper and EmmaRose seem better at facing fear than I but in watching what they give to one another as well as to me, reciprocating is effortless.
Every vision starts somewhere.
I suspect the force that is all life, whether the form is matter or antimatter, sees wholeness not separateness, offers treasure without condition—imagine.
ROW80 Wednesday Word Marking
I am re-framing my writing goals. This round, I am concentrating on revising the original draft of my novel, based on the kernel idea I developed in a writing workshop. You can view what I have to say about that here.
I did manage to write a little more than a thousand words (1,068) on how the new version of the novel will read, in particular what it will mean for many of the characters. It is a fascinating process, for me.
KM Huber's Blog 
Your family inspires me. Your understanding of the unconditional love from Cooper and EmmaRose is amazing! You however opened you heart, home, bed, pinecone garden but mostly your life to adopt these little critters. I believe you have a family who was meant to be together, and so it is. I’m not sure if you know this, but Cooper and I are now twins……..57!!! Keep up the great work Karen!
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Did not know you and Cooper are twins but now that I think about it…. Thanks for your kind words, Dona.
Karen
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I love the face of unconditional love. [woof!]
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Hi, Ann!
Isn’t the face of unconditional love just the best? It makes everything possible. Thanks for stopping by.
Karen
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We can learn so much from animals. Thanks for this post!
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Yes, we can and do, August, which I know you know. Thanks for stopping by.
Karen
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Good luck with your revisions!
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Thanks, Ryan; so far, so good. Thanks for stopping by.
Karen
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Ahh. Cozy contentment. Sometimes I have to mourn the absence of tacos too. But adjustments to food and finances have simplified my choices, and my life. The trade-off has been good.
I didn’t have a chance to read this lovely post until tonight. My brain perked up at your mention of unconditional love. I’m enjoying feeling “connected.” 🙂 Thanks, Karen!
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Hi, Deb!
You know, I feel the same way about the adjustments; life may be more basic but there is an abundance I had missed. I truly mean that. Unconditional love is what connects and always has. Somehow, I missed that, too, for a long time. Always enjoy your stopping by, Deb.
Karen
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Your babies are beautiful and fortunate to have you to take care of them. We all need to reframe every now and then. Good luck with your revision.
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Hello, Robin!
As a senior set, they are quite handsome. On some days, they return to the antics of their youth. Don’t we all? Thanks for the writing encouragement.
Karen
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Ah, yes, I did some reframing of goals this week too. Always important! For several years, I was totally fixated on daily word count goals, and a lot of that work is garbage. Goals should be fluid, but they should always be there within the framwork of the big picture, the larger goal.
Good luck!
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Hello, Ruth!
“…a lot of that work is garbage.” Completely! The juggle of writing and life lasts as long as we do so the goal is always to write as well as live. Thanks, Ruth!
Karen
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This post was very relaxing! I’ve never looked into the Tao as far as inspiration and daily guidedance… perhaps now I should.
Good luck with your goals this week!
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For me, the Tao is an inexhaustible source. Thanks for the encouragement.
Karen
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Good morning, Karen! It was such a treat to wake up to the poetry of your writing. As always, your blog reminds me to slow down and breathe deeply. Thanks you for that. Giving and receiving love from our pets is such a gift in life, isn’t it?
Enjoy the writing!
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Hey, Ann!
What a treat to read your compliment, Ann. Thank you. Pets make it really hard to have a bad day.
Karen
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Writing process always fascinates me. Hope re-framing your goals helps you!
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Hello, Suzan!
Agree about the writing process and suspect it just is a part of my life, now. Thanks for stopping by.
Karen
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that sounds like a good setup – life lived for now not then – content and philosophical – although have to say when my time comes am rather hoping euthnasia can be mine as well as my cats
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Hi, Alberta!
Like you, I would like euthanasia as an option pour moi; it is ironic in this world that it is not, I think. The longer I live, the more convinced I am that life is all and complete in every moment.
Karen
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