Is it true that our animals are always in the now? I’ve heard that statement often, but I don’t think it tells the whole story.
They show us how to be in the now
When people say this, they express how our animal companions are there to teach us humans to be “in the now.” To be present to what’s happening in this moment. And I think there’s a lot of truth in that belief.
For instance, when my dogs and I are walking in the park, they are totally engrossed in scents, or whatever catches their eye. And when my cat Bunnie is having her chin and ears scratched, she fully focuses on our delightful interaction.
No “To Do”
In those instances, they’re not thinking about their “To Do” List like we humans tend to do. Nor are they multi-tasking. They are totally in the present.
But I worry that people believe this description explains everything about how other species interact with the world. They carry no past, and they don’t think about the future. Some philosophers even believed animals had no memory. Instead, they simply responded to whatever stimulus was presented in the moment.
There’s more to them than being “in the now”
Remembering the past
Those of us who have a deep relationship with our animals know there’s more. The dogs I’ve adopted from shelters and rescue organizations bring history with them. Some behaviors I’ve seen, which are based on bad past experiences, are separation anxiety or fear aggression.
Smarter than you think: Fish can remember where they were fed 12 days later
Grieving the past
Another example I noticed is that our animals grieved family animals who transitioned. Their behavior changed; they were less conficent. When we adopted doggies Newt and Molly, they acted comfortable and started playing again.
When Animals Grieve
Anticipating the future
And we also know that our animal companions anticipate what is going to happen. Every day, my cats let us know when it’s time for breakfast. It’s very clear – vocalizing and walking on me. When she thinks it’s time to go on our afternoon walk, Molly gently paws me and stares soulfully into my eyes.
The Surprising Complexity of Animal Memories
In the now + so much more
As you enjoy being in the now with your beloved companion, notice how they have a deeper experience of life. Celebrate that! It’ll bring depth to YOUR life.
Are your companion animals stuck in the past? I can help.
Have you also noticed a deeper aspect of your animal companion’s life experiences? Would love to hear about it – leave a comment!
When I am communicating with my rescue dog Tony, he often has comments about a little girl.
Tonight he said: “Tea party with the girl, cookie”.
He has also said he sat on the little girl’s lap while she played and sang nursery rhymes.
row, row your boat, patty cake, patty cake bakers man.
So fascinating! Since you’re a graduate of my UConnect animal communication class, Phyllis, you might ask Tony for more information. I’m curious who he’s playing with. Is it a little girl in spirit, or is he connecting intuitively with a little girl he knew before you adopted him? Just a couple of thoughts, it might be someone else.