A while back I read an open question from a friend on social media: “how do you see other people?” I guess possible answers could include: as spiritual beings having a human experience (hear me retch); as friends; as scary things; as something I cannot control; as something I must control; as obstacles; as reflections of my disowned weaknesses (my dark shadow); as reflections of my disowned strengths (my light shadow); as my mother (our relationship with the world is our relationship with our primary caregiver).
But my immediate and automatic response was, “I see other people as animals.” It seemed very weird that this came out of my fingertips so effortlessly.
My response shocked me because it sounds so terrible, so belittling. It reminds me of my stepfather making me eat off the floor as a child: “If you’re going to behave like an animal then I’ll treat you like one.”
But the thing is that I’m not a psychopath, so I don’t see animals as something that I can control, abuse, and take advantage of. Being called an animal is not an insult for me. Animals are beautiful things, the wilder the better. They move naturally and effortlessly. The more wild they are, the more anti-neurotic they seem. Animals are just what they are, and I hope I treat them with respect. Personally, I’m no better than an animal.
