Whispers to keep me awake

I was up way too late last night. Every one else was in bed and I just wasn't ready for sleep. I browsed Netflix's documentaries instead, not really expecting to find anything to stay awake to, and then I did.

Back in July, I linked "whispering for horses" to a trailer for a documentary called "Buck".  I have wanted to see the film ever since and waited for it to show up at the theaters, though it never did (around here). But I found the documentary last night on instant streaming, and though I am tired right now, I have no regrets about taking this little detour. Here is the trailer again, if you haven't seen it:

If you love horses, then of course you will love this film, but what I took away was a deeper understanding that a relationship with a horse is not unlike a relationship with another human being, except one thing. You can be guaranteed that a horse will always be honest with you from the very beginning.  If you have treated them unjustly, without compassion or respect, they will reflect that back to you as clear as any mirror. The parallels here to parenting a child were so striking to me, and Buck's ability to intuitively understand this, being an abused child himself, was moving.

Horse whispering, like peaceful parenting, is about the mutual love and respect between two souls. We are so connected that how we feel about ourselves will translate to how we treat those nearest to us. Buck talks about the "dance" that happens between him and the horse, how there is a balance between gentleness and firmness, and force never enters the equation. The language of love and dignity, pain or neglect, has no boundaries among humans and the amazing animals we love. This film is about understanding the souls and spirits of horses, and treating them with the kind of respect that every soul should treat another with, including ourselves.

I hope you get to see this film..
much love to you
xoxo