Are You Waiting For The Coyote?

I’m sure this title needs some context, good thing I am going to give you some. This last Friday, the Hubs and I were driving around town and as we drove down this neighborhood street I saw a kitty laying on the side of the road. I instantly said “poor baby” and said a prayer. As we go by I saw this little kitty’s eyes, wide open and staring right at me. I told my husband, “that cat is alive!” Being the amazing Hubs he is, he just turned around, I didn’t even have to tell him. I was already calling the animal shelter, if this kitty could be helped, I was going to get it for her and if not, she wouldn’t die alone. We walked up to a scared kitty, obviously in distress. She couldn’t move anything but her head and eyes and she meowed loudly and fearfully. So we just sat, and pet her. I was afraid to move her because of the obvious trauma, but I couldn’t leave her. My husband pulled the umbrella out of the truck to shade this little baby from the sun as we waited. As we sat and just whispered love to this baby the home owner behind us came out, his first sentence was, “yea, it’s pretty much done.” His second was, “it has been there since earlier this morning, I was hoping a coyote would come get it.” It was at this moment that I had to turn away, this time wasn’t about me throat punching the trash man behind me, it was about giving this kitty some love. The animal shelter arrived and I knew this baby was finally at peace. As I left I was stewing about this man and his lack of basic decency, but as I thought about his comments, I knew I was about to stumble into my next lesson.

Are we waiting for the coyote? How many of us have relationships, jobs, loved ones, even parts of us, dying on the side of the road? How many of us are taking the steps to help these little pieces and how many are hoping a coyote will come do the work for you? I don’t know how long little kitty was there before I came along, but it was some time. In all that time she suffered, and all those that passed turned their eyes. We do that in life don’t we? It has become far easier to just keep driving, or just go back inside, and leave what’s broken be. If I leave it long enough, maybe someone or something, will come handle this for me. It took 45 minutes of my day and no effort at all to give this kitty some peace as she undoubtedly was leaving this world. Was she able to be saved? I don’t know, I doubt it. Did she suffer longer than needed? Probably. How many of our life situations are suffering? Are we uncomfortable waiting for the coyote, or are we the kitty begging to be seen? Quite possibly we are both.

Confrontation is hard. Owning our truth is hard. Waiting for the coyote is harder. Part of going through these life lessons over and over is so we can finally get them right. Not so they can be easier, not so you can breeze right by them. We go through these so we can go through them. We have to choose to see, to acknowledge, and to do the right thing, even when its hard. One of the hardest things we have to face is our past traumas, and by doing so we have to own our truth. This means we have to own every time we were the kitty laying dying in the road and every time we were the trash man leaving something we didn’t want to face to the coyotes. It would have taken 10 minutes to call in and make a report for this kitty to get help, even if all you did was make the call. These forks in the road come to us often, and even before this kitty, I felt the change coming. I found myself in situation after situation where choosing to do something was not as easy as walking away, but doing something was the only real option. This poor kitty didn’t die so I could learn this lesson, but Spirit, being the resourceful source they are, led me right to her. This was a physical manifestation of everything I’ve been learning.

We all have parts that are broken, things or situations that aren’t working, even people and relationships that are not serving a positive role in this life. We can leave these things out in the road and hope the coyote comes or we can sit with them, acknowledge them, and let them go. I knew I couldn’t keep this kitty here, even trying to would have done her more harm than good. But, I didn’t have to pass her by as if she never existed. Whether it is our old hurts or our past loves. Traumas, or toxic relationships. We have to see them, acknowledge them, and even if it ends, be grateful for them. Some kitties can’t be saved, but we can let them go in peace. Whether its a phone call or a full on road side vigil, choose to do something. Waiting for the coyote won’t bring you peace, or closure. It also wont keep your hands clean. One day you will be the kitty and you would never want to be left for the coyote.

It is more than ok to acknowledge that something is no longer serving its purpose. That a job is no longer fulfilling, a relationship no longer working, and family ties that no longer feel secure. Own those things, see them through, and if its best- let them go. This will not only allow you to finally move forward, but to finally see past the loss and be grateful for the life. Do not choose the “easy” way out, don’t be the victim, and don’t blame. See your path for what it is, be grateful for where you’ve been, and have faith in where you are going. Whatever you do, where ever you may be, don’t wait for the coyote.