When we watch animals play they can remind us of our own wild nature. They focus their attention on playing in a way that is unfamiliar to most of us.
We have forgotten our own innocence and have accumulated many thoughts and ideas about the way we should live. We tend not to prioritize rest or relaxation until we absolutely have to, until we find ourselves in the midst of a crisis. Then we stop, ask questions about the choices we have made and what led us to make those choices in the first place.
When Neil, our kitten, plays with his toy giraffe I re-learn the meaning of attention, of shifting the gaze from fear to wonder. He allows himself to be imperfect and clumsy; he also plays with his whole body, doesn’t hold back.