Tag Archives: Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder

The Stretchable Heart

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Posted by on in Assistance, collaborating, Community, Inspiration, Matters of Faith, Personal Values, Service Activities, Social, Spiritual, Striving

June 25, 2023- The skin covering my hand drum has shrunken back and separated from two of the connector strings. The supreme gentleman who gifted me this drum, two years ago, has graciously taken it back for repair. This is one of many acts of kindness, both musical and in food production, that he has done over the years. I daresay this friend’s heart is as stretchable as he wants the drum skin to be.

A long absent friend sat across from me, in the cozy coffee shop, detailing the plans she, her husband and some well-heeled contacts have for establishing a retreat for First Responders to recover from Post-traumatic Stress Disorder, as well as for the study of that affliction. She knows the matter well, having survived a national tragedy, directly, several years ago. Her heart is as stretchable as the area she sees as the homaticme of their dream’s work.

A scant seven weeks from now, a couple who have served the Divine, selflessly, for over thirty years, will host their eleventh annual festival of community service, especially for the homeless and disabled veterans. Having lost two sons to the ravages of war, they continue to not be bound by the burden, instead putting their energies outward, to help those whose needs are more immediately tangible. Their hearts, individual and collective soar towards the Presence they so revere.

Is it not the most worthy of goals, for the heart to be stretchable?

Constant Solace

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Posted by on in animal and plant life, Family, Service Activities, Social, Travel

March 28, 2017, Prescott Valley- This afternoon, whilst shuttling between meetings.   I listened to a discussion, on NPR, about emotional support animals.  It set me to thinking about the matters: Of people who feel invisible and untended; of false equivalency between those who are truly disabled, those who are mildly inconvenienced, and how does one accurately distinguish between the two; of those who are simply gaming the system.

When I was a child, there were Seeing Eye Dogs and police dogs, with specific missions, who were not to be bothered, in the course of their duties.  In the late 1970’s, came Hearing Dogs, which was almost a no-brainer.  After the closing of mental hospitals, and with the onset of more research on Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder, Therapy Dogs and Equestrian Therapy started to become commonplace, especially in the American West.  These animals all still serve a wide variety of people in pain.

In the 1990’s, and continuing through the present time, we have seen a more personalized extension of the therapy animal:  The Emotional Support Animal (ESA).  Dogs, cats, budgerigars, pythons, lizards, ferrets, hamsters, even llamas and burros, have been presented, in one or more social situations and public spaces, as essential companions to humans.

For those making these new demands upon the rest of society, the traditional concept of pets has gone out the window.  I know many who treasure their various pets, sometimes as members of the family.  Most of my pet-owning friends keep their furry friends at home, or make humane arrangements for them, when out of town.  To the people who regard their animals as essential to their own well-being, however, the idea of being away from them, even for a night on the town, becomes nerve-wracking, traumatic, and completely unacceptable.

I can understand a lot of this.  Other than the unconditional love of a significant other, there are few things more appealing than the comfort of one’s favourite animal, especially after a stressful day.  A warm dog or cat is also a comfort for many who live, and sleep, alone.

Enter the Golden Rule.  I am just posing these questions- without judgment:

Are the feelings of one’s fellow diners, and of eatery staffs, being considered, when one brings an ESA into a restaurant or outdoor cafe?

Is it safe, or even comfortable, to bring a stock animal onto a train?  What about the comfort of the animal?

Can the likes of  a dog, cat, gerbil or python really be suitable for riding in the coach of an airplane?  What about the animal’s safety, in the event its human needs to evacuate said aircraft?

What about the management of a conflict between, say, a dog and cat, or two animals in heat?

These are all, to my mind, fair questions.  I will read any reasonable, well- considered responses with a great deal of interest.