Many moons ago there lived a beautiful young woman named Samsira, her beloved Prince, and her wise kitty, Tinsy. Their lives were intricately intertwined and they enjoyed each day together. Tinsy provided insight to Samsira when she needed comforting or spiritual guidance. All lived together in wonderment, enjoying the unfolding of life. 

One day as they walked a familiar path, a sudden storm came upon them. They rushed to find shelter, but a crack of lightning struck the Prince. It was a quick, bright spray of light. When Samsira looked up after it subsided, her Prince had vanished. She and Tinsy searched and searched but the Prince was never found.  She was heartbroken. She spent many days and nights with fear and loneliness after the loss of her dear Prince.  It was a trying time.

One day as she and Tinsy were in a clearing gathering herbs and berries, she heard a rustling in the leaves. Low and behold a joyful puppy appeared, jumped into Samsira's arms, and kissed her right on the lips.  It was love at first sight.  Samsira and Tinsy took the puppy home and named him Maximus.  Samsira felt safe and calm once Maximus became a part of their lives and she began to notice that the air was crisper and the sun shone brighter than she had noticed in days' past.

As the days lingered on and her grief lessened, she began to find enjoyment in tasks that she never considered before. She turned inward and allowed herself to hear her private thoughts, she created beautiful paintings on the rocks and trees from berries and plants she never knew were there, she fed Maximus and Tinsy food from her table, read them stories, frollicked with them, and provided comfortable bedding, protection and companionship as she never had before.  Her love for Maximus and Tinsy grew stronger every day.  She turned her fears and insecurities into a selfless outpouring of love and devotion for her furry friends.  They were her family and she would do anything to keep them with her always. It was a time for growth and renewal. 

One day she decided to walk to a place under a large oak tree where she and her Prince would picnic and dream together in times past. She wished to have her Prince with her to share with him all she had learned since his departure. She began to reminisce of their time together.  The tears that had been stored inside her for so long began to flow. Maximus seeing her distress came to her and brushed his fur against her eyes and against her tears, wiping them away with love and care. 

Samsira reached for her wonderful companions bestowing love and appreciation for both Maximus and Tinsy. After giving and receiving this love and comfort from her furry friends, she softly opened her eyes.  Before her, in full form, Maximus was transformed into her beloved Prince.  The High Spirits allowed the Prince to be returned to her once again when the tears of pure, selfliss love touched Maximus' fur.  It was a joyful time.  With this new respect for the meaning of life, Samsira, the Prince(Maximus), and Tinsy lived every moment to the fullest.  The beginning....

The moral of the story: Only when a person discovers their true inner self, and begins to pay attention and care for themselves like never before, can they provide the nurturing, love, attention and care to their beloved furry companions so they will thrive.  It is a time for reflection.

Our furry friends may have four legs instead of two, and they can't speak a language that we understand with our ears, but they are living beings, they have souls, spirit, and life to live and give. They deserve to have the best nutrition, shelter, care and love as any living being.    

"ENCOURAGE THE BODY TO HEAL ITSELF"