Thanks for this piece and your vulnerable analysis, Mike. My son has been watching ABC World News every night as part of a Boy Scout Merit Badge requirement, and Punch has been the “heartwarming” story at the end of multiple broadcasts. Except I cry every time. I hadn’t stopped to analyze why in this amount of depth, and I really love that not only did you analyze it on a personal level, but also you shared those thoughts publicly.
I love your analysis and the vulnerability in which you write, Mike. Thank you. Empathy sometimes seems like a rarity in our cruel world, but Punch has activated it globally with his resilience and need for kinship and love. He is the opposite of the performative culture we live in, and he does not and cannot mask his feelings. Pure innocence. The honesty of him is intoxicating.
Heartstring response. When those we love dearly must struggle through their days, holding on to what brings comfort in those days (cuppa coffee, sitting in the sunshine, day-dreaming maybe) it feels both grim and an act of gratitude to witness the hanging in there. Blessings on your writing and your work
I had been offline for a few days and missed this whole thing, and could not have been brought up to speed more movingly. It's fascinating how human, in both good and bad ways, our primate cousins are, especially the very intelligent orangutans.
I was at a conference where virtually the entire audience agreed that, with the constant chaos and threat we are living in these days, we are not all right.
As a counterpoint, one of the most heartening research summaries I've read is that many animals demonstrate an innate sense of fairness, and that they react against unfairness. This may yet save us.
I have suspected for several years that the increased focus on bonding with animals is a result of human alienation. Technology has replaced community as the driver of attention and definer of meaning. Superficial relatedness through words - too many words - engulf public space. Our bonds with animals allow us to go deeper.
This is a very insightful observation. I need to think about this more. There must be some data on this somewhere because I’m certain you’re on to something
That is truly beautiful. I have a whiteish (it used to be very white), twin size blankie that I've slept with since I was two and put in my first bed (I'll be 59 in a couple months). We've had to drive back to hotels to retrieve it and even had it shipped to us when we were too far to turn around. The silky edges are tattered and I've had to sew them back to the blanket material, which itself is wearing thin. I try not to wash it more than once a month and I no longer travel with it. I know it doesn't really provide comfort, but it has been the place where I have put a lifetime of tears, fears, and feelings of being just on the outside of things. Thankfully my husband and adult children overlook it being shoved under my pillow and I love them more than they know for that.
I couldn't love this more. It has been an emotional week, some reasons obvious, but mostly not. It's a mystery to me why I have been tearing up at the drop of a hat this week. I'm sure it's likely a convergence of personal issues and the shit show going on in our country (ICE killing) that is causing me to feel a bit more helpless right now. Your lovely writing today and tiny Punch tugged at and punched once again at my heartstrings Mike. I guess we see ourselves in him too.
This morning I accompanied my grandchildren to school breakfast. One little 7 year old girl at the table asked the others a question that caught my attention. She asked if they liked another little girl and mentioned her by name, let's say "Amy". I asked her who Amy was and she pointed to a little girl sitting AT the table. Thankfully none of the other littles answered her. Amy did not look like the other girls. She was quite round and taller, physically didn't "fit in" but I'm pretty sure the same age. Right before that another little girl asked Amy to move so a different little girl could sit next to her. She didn't move. I struck up a conversation with Amy and attempted to include her in the group that way, but I'm not a little, so I'm not someone who can include her like her peers can. I made sure to give her smiles and wished them all a fun day at school. I'm not a quick thinker by any means, because afterward I really thought I should have asked the 7 year old why on earth she asked that question. I thought about how Amy felt in the silent moments afterward when no one answered. What if someone had said no, but also maybe yes? It just bothered me that exclusion was the agenda and I was ill equipped to confront it in that moment. I think I need a power nap.
It is heartbreaking to see little Punch alone this way, but at the same time heartwarming to see him keep going foward. We should all learn from his example. Who know what else from animal behavior we can learn from to better ourselves.
Morning, Mike. Thanks for this. You're right - at one point in our lives, we have all known or will know what little Punch is going through.
Some only for a brief moment, some longer than most.
It costs nothing to be kind.
Thanks for this piece and your vulnerable analysis, Mike. My son has been watching ABC World News every night as part of a Boy Scout Merit Badge requirement, and Punch has been the “heartwarming” story at the end of multiple broadcasts. Except I cry every time. I hadn’t stopped to analyze why in this amount of depth, and I really love that not only did you analyze it on a personal level, but also you shared those thoughts publicly.
Incredibly written, heart warming and gut wrenching at the same time. Brilliant!
I’m still not sure if I’m more happy or sad as I follow his daily life. I guess that’s the point
I love your analysis and the vulnerability in which you write, Mike. Thank you. Empathy sometimes seems like a rarity in our cruel world, but Punch has activated it globally with his resilience and need for kinship and love. He is the opposite of the performative culture we live in, and he does not and cannot mask his feelings. Pure innocence. The honesty of him is intoxicating.
Love this
Heartstring response. When those we love dearly must struggle through their days, holding on to what brings comfort in those days (cuppa coffee, sitting in the sunshine, day-dreaming maybe) it feels both grim and an act of gratitude to witness the hanging in there. Blessings on your writing and your work
I had been offline for a few days and missed this whole thing, and could not have been brought up to speed more movingly. It's fascinating how human, in both good and bad ways, our primate cousins are, especially the very intelligent orangutans.
I was at a conference where virtually the entire audience agreed that, with the constant chaos and threat we are living in these days, we are not all right.
As a counterpoint, one of the most heartening research summaries I've read is that many animals demonstrate an innate sense of fairness, and that they react against unfairness. This may yet save us.
I love your last point, and I hope you're right.
I have suspected for several years that the increased focus on bonding with animals is a result of human alienation. Technology has replaced community as the driver of attention and definer of meaning. Superficial relatedness through words - too many words - engulf public space. Our bonds with animals allow us to go deeper.
This is a very insightful observation. I need to think about this more. There must be some data on this somewhere because I’m certain you’re on to something
Wow. This got me, Mike. Amazing, amazing post.
Crying now…
That is truly beautiful. I have a whiteish (it used to be very white), twin size blankie that I've slept with since I was two and put in my first bed (I'll be 59 in a couple months). We've had to drive back to hotels to retrieve it and even had it shipped to us when we were too far to turn around. The silky edges are tattered and I've had to sew them back to the blanket material, which itself is wearing thin. I try not to wash it more than once a month and I no longer travel with it. I know it doesn't really provide comfort, but it has been the place where I have put a lifetime of tears, fears, and feelings of being just on the outside of things. Thankfully my husband and adult children overlook it being shoved under my pillow and I love them more than they know for that.
I couldn't love this more. It has been an emotional week, some reasons obvious, but mostly not. It's a mystery to me why I have been tearing up at the drop of a hat this week. I'm sure it's likely a convergence of personal issues and the shit show going on in our country (ICE killing) that is causing me to feel a bit more helpless right now. Your lovely writing today and tiny Punch tugged at and punched once again at my heartstrings Mike. I guess we see ourselves in him too.
This morning I accompanied my grandchildren to school breakfast. One little 7 year old girl at the table asked the others a question that caught my attention. She asked if they liked another little girl and mentioned her by name, let's say "Amy". I asked her who Amy was and she pointed to a little girl sitting AT the table. Thankfully none of the other littles answered her. Amy did not look like the other girls. She was quite round and taller, physically didn't "fit in" but I'm pretty sure the same age. Right before that another little girl asked Amy to move so a different little girl could sit next to her. She didn't move. I struck up a conversation with Amy and attempted to include her in the group that way, but I'm not a little, so I'm not someone who can include her like her peers can. I made sure to give her smiles and wished them all a fun day at school. I'm not a quick thinker by any means, because afterward I really thought I should have asked the 7 year old why on earth she asked that question. I thought about how Amy felt in the silent moments afterward when no one answered. What if someone had said no, but also maybe yes? It just bothered me that exclusion was the agenda and I was ill equipped to confront it in that moment. I think I need a power nap.
It is heartbreaking to see little Punch alone this way, but at the same time heartwarming to see him keep going foward. We should all learn from his example. Who know what else from animal behavior we can learn from to better ourselves.
Thanks for this Mike.
Impressive👏
Thanks for explaining why this is what finally made me weep in the midst of so much human suffering
Wow, you wrote something incredibly honest and beautiful . Thank you.
Beautiful noted.