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Oh my animals know me better than I know myself. My mood, my movements, the stuff under the veneer. I “think” my dog and he shows up in moments. My horse feeds off my mind and body, when I am incongruent,

s/he responds in a fractious or confusing manner.

I much prefer the animals reality to family communication. I can count on animals being honest.. Not so with family.

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This is so true. I have the same experience. We're so lucky. And, yes, much better than most family communication! Glad you have your beloveds!

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Friendship! My bestie and I celebrate thirty years of friendship next year. My siblings are my best friends but they don't live in the same city as me so it's been critical that I develop a family of friends where I live. It's saved my life. Literally. And it's what gives my life richness and meaning. I am not someone who wants to hang out all the time and definitely not someone who wants to go out all of the time which used to make me feel like a bad friend but for the people I'm close with I am always, always there when it counts.

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That's so wonderful that your siblings are your best friends! Though I wish they lived closer. And a family of friends: Yes! It does offer richness and meaning. So glad you have that! And that your friends understand that you're not always up for going out but are there when needed!

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I am lucky to have been gifted the siblings I have. <3

I've also learned that we can have all different kinds of friends in all different kinds of settings. Some are here for the long haul and those are the ones I always think of as most meaningful. But I've had some very powerful friendships that were also necessarily short-lived.

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Great interview, so happy to discover Jane Wong! I read and loved her poem, thank you.

My tuxedo cat is 15, but she still learns new ways to communicate with us all, and at times I know I am not equipped to tap into her full potential.

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I'm so glad you enjoyed it! Jane's writing is exquisite! Just bowls me over.

Fifteen! That's so wonderful, Mya! I know, I feel the same way...that there's deeper communication available if I only knew how!

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