We're flattened and hollowed out. We're dried up, yet full of torrential tears. Our animal companion is no longer physically on this Earth. What do we do with the energy of grief that could beat us down and create neuro-chemicals of depression that could possibly lead to other illnesses? We can allow ourselves to grieve for a time, but we must not become chemically addicted to the neuro-chemistry of sadness. If it becomes a habitual feeling, it can be even more challenging to get up again.
We must do something, eventually, with our grief so that we are not wallowing in a mucky pond that is too small to go swimming and yet too cold and stagnant to soak. People often create a legacy for their own human children or for other people that have touched them deeply, but have passed over. When losing an animal companion feels unbearable, we must create a legacy for them. A legacy is something we create to benefit others that is influenced by the life of the person or animal that passed. If we focus on creating our animal companion's legacy, then we are focusing the energy of grief into something productive and helpful that will live after them.
When Rocky passed (I am still in the beginning stages of grief where even writing that feels like an impossibility), I knew I had to create a legacy in his honor so that his magnificence would not just effect me only. He was an amazing goat. His intelligence, compassion, affection, playfulness, wisdom and confidence surpassed that of most beings. I am privileged to have had him in my life. Rocky, Sunshine and I were a herd. A herd is very tight knit. Once you are part of a herd, you are in. You belong. There is no looking back. You are part of something that is larger than the sum of its parts. The herd membership is like a secret code that lets you into an amazing world. You no longer just sit with goats and interact with them. Being part of the herd means that now even one glance from a goat's eyes has a deeper meaning and feeling. It means you are connected. Your identity becomes wrapped up in the herd mentality. I can only describe it as having a sense of BELONGING that makes that word pale in comparison to how it really feels.
Losing Rocky is not just losing the best part of what I considered my life, it is also losing an identity. My sense of self was wrapped around my connection to him. He somehow made the world a better place for me. I was obsessed with him. His love for me and my love for him defined my life. What choice do I have but to create a legacy?
When you lose an animal companion that touches your soul deeply, creating a legacy for them can be the best thing you can possibly do. Rocky's Legacy is to help save other animals. He was a lucky goat. Most goats in the area I live are eaten. Many goats are killed and abused in the dairy industry. Even young goats are used as food. The most popular meat in the world is goat meat. But, these are one of the smartest, affectionate amazing beings. Rocky's Legacy is to promote the awareness of the value of animals and influence people not to eat them or use them for human gain. We share this planet with animals. We can honor and respect them, doing whatever we can to improve their lives. Rocky's Legacy is to promote veganism and animal rights. His name will live after him. Though he left this world, this mission will live on. One amazing goat will effect many animals.
Create a Legacy for your loved one. The more they effected your life, the larger the legacy. In this way, you channel the energy of grief, of loss, into a meaningful gift for the planet. It is my belief that our loved ones would want to help the planet, would want their life here to have meant something on a larger scale.
Rocky's Legacy is, at this time, composed of two parts. One is a short story I wrote called Cornelius the Goat that awaits illustration and will soon be on Kindle. It teaches others to value animals. The other part is a play I wrote called Barnyard Karma told from the point of view of farm animals that are trying to avoid slaughter day. It is a docudramedy: part documentary, part drama, mostly comedy. It helps to raise awareness for animal liberation. It is needing funding to be able to be performed for free in many locals.
Creating such a Legacy is a good way of handling the loss of a loved one. If you allow the life they had to live after them, you are helping the planet. You are also helping yourself. When you give your life a grand purpose, to save animals from being eaten and abused, you help the environment as well.
Create a Legacy for your animal companion. This is a healthy way of dealing with the suffering that accompanies loss.
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