Animal Understanding

Things animals understand better than humans:

Joy- A dog can hear the word "outside" every day and still react like it has received a personal invitation to Narnia. Meanwhile, humans need a coffee, a pay raise, and seven unread messages to feel "alive."

Talking life slowly- Cows can stand in a field chewing grass like they've cracked the meaning of life. No podcast, no morning routine. No $1,000 productivity course. Just grass and suspicious staring.

Self-Acceptance- Have you heard the phrase, "happier than a pig in mud?" A pig rolls around in it proud as a peacock. Humans look in the mirror and start researching new personalities and ways to fix wrinkles that have been earned.

Resting- Cats don't earn rest. They just stop when they are done doing whatever they are doing. Like they just finished a 14-hour shift in customer service. Humans schedule rest. Down to the last minute. Then beat themselves up for needing it in the first place.

Panic-

Chickens understand that their life is mostly composed of running around for no clear reason, also while making what we feel is unnecessary noise. We carry panic and anxiety like a badge of honor and then wonder why our bodies don't respond accordingly. Maybe make some unnecessary noise.

Not pretending to care- Look at a donkeys face when you ask it to do something. It will always say "I heard you. I understand you. I will not be doing that." Humans should try this more often.

Decision making-

A goat can have an entire football field of grass and still risk a spinal rearrangement to get a leaf on the opposite side of their fence. Not because it tastes better. But because once something becomes slightly inconvenient, it also becomes essential. Humans hate to be inconvenienced and then get salty when something is.

Following the wrong person-

Sheep watch one sheep start walking and immediately assume a decision has been made. No evidence, no discussion, just a confidence that somebody else knows what's going on. Humans do this and we call that person a manager. IF you are a manager and you want your flock to follow you, it would be a good idea to remember that confidence is what drove them to follow you in the first place.

So, what do animals know that we don't?

Rest when you are tired. Without explanation.

Eat when you are hungry, grazing is underrated.

Ignore nonsense, and most of it is nonsense. Stare at people for no reason. Maybe not too long, that could border on creepy. But we really don't observe enough.

Never trust a gate. Something worth the trouble may be on the other side. If you get zapped, it probably wasn't worth it and there may already be something in front of you equally or even more delicious. Find joy in looking at something you may have seen a million times, for the first time. Follow the leader, if they have earned your confidence. Not just because everyone else is doing it. Make unnecessary noise sometimes. It won't be the end of the world.