This morning I laughed out loud as I read an inspirational message from Don Miguel Ruiz about accepting others the way they are.
Ruiz said to try to change others to fit what you want them to be is like trying to change a dog into a cat.
When he says it that way, it’s abundantly clear how ludicrous the idea is.
And still we persist in our folly.
The question is WHY.
Is it because it feels so comfortable to have someone recite the "lines" we write for them? Then we know what to expect. We get just what we wanted. But…did we learn anything?
Is it because we are focusing on the microcosm of our little world and we forget there’s a macrocosm circling all around us? Remembering that sounds like work…doesn’t it?
Is it because reminding ourselves who is the dog and who is the cat means we have to be in top form…centered, balanced, loving, calm? Wow…to do that we have to take really good care of ourselves…all the time!
It seems like there is a Dogs are Dogs and Cats are Cats School and someone enrolled us when we weren’t looking.
The price for not doing our homework is perpetual frustration. The reward for figuring out this one is peaceful cohabitation.
Yes, that IS a vivid illustration of the futile attempt to change someone! How lovely to learn to accept the dogs and cats for what they are. I think a person does have to be incredibly centered to practice this all the time. And I think this is an excellent goal.
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