Love Without Words: Embracing True Connection
Love doesn’t need words to be felt. Kindness is a language understood by all: across words, dialects, and even species. This recently became abundantly clear to me, while spending time with my furbabies. Despite never speaking the same language, we constantly communicate. When Nashville needs anything, whether it's a belly rub or his ears cleaned (yes, this is as disgusting as it sounds), I just know. Nashville has so many different expressions and ways of communicating—each one unique and clear to me. It's hard to explain, but his looks, his movements, and even his silence speak volumes to me. This deep connection is built on paying close attention and truly understanding each other’s behaviors and routines.
Our human connections used to be the same way. Before technology took over, we relied on observing and understanding non-verbal cues. Now, we depend too much on words, especially through screens. We miss out on the subtle behaviors and routines that help us genuinely know one another. This over-reliance on digital communication can cause us to overlook when something is wrong or when someone needs us.
Take our relationships with our loved ones, for example. When someone close to us wants or needs something, it can sometimes be hard to read. Sure, there are obvious times when they clearly communicate their needs (perhaps less often the case for women), but there are also moments when they aren’t okay and need something—patience, a hug, support, or just a bit of downtime. Even though their actions and behaviors might make it clear, we often overlook these signals because they say they’re “fine.” We tend to prioritize their words over the obvious non-verbal cues.
This is why many people bond more deeply with animals than humans. We observe, listen, and respond to all their actions and behaviors. With people, we often take their words at face value and move on with our day. Imagine if we applied the same principles we use with our pets to our human relationships. By paying attention to our loved ones' behaviors and routines, we can deepen our connections and respond more effectively to their needs.
It is essential to prioritize actions over words. Words can be empty, but actions rarely lie. When we pay close attention to the actions and behaviors of those around us, we gain a deeper understanding of their true feelings and needs. Even in conversation, this level of attention should be a top priority because words can sometimes mask what someone is actually experiencing.
Let's warm our world back up and focus on more than words on a screen. Our furbabies teach us that true connection is about being present and attentive. Let’s take a page from their book and strive to connect with our loved ones, beyond words, beyond the hustle and bustle of everyday life. Our humans deserve the same love, attention, and connection we give to our pets.
I propose we put down our screens and spend more time observing, listening, and connecting with the people and animals who matter most in our lives. Love is shown in many ways, and the strongest connections are often formed without a single word.
