Animal Quills

Although when I first read it I also thought the spirituality connection was subtle, but your clarification helped me understand the deeper connection there, so this essay was an interesting and more unique take on spirituality than what I would have expected; it was good to read.

Ironically enough, a few years ago I had a deep realization of how much family means to me during and after I had appendicitis. I got stuck in the hospital for five days though because it had ruptured, and it took me probably a month to fully recover back to my normal self. But while I was in the hospital, I think the loneliness at times from being separated from anyone I knew or loved, such as my family, really got to me. Most of each day for five days I could barely sleep, and a hospital room is far from the comfort I feel when just being at home. My mother was the greatest comfort to me while I was there, and the last night I had to stay there I got her to stay with me because I didn't want to spend another night there like I had the previous night (when none of my family was with me). I also found that my family showed much care and concern, but my friends outside of my family seemed to not even care much (even though I had been gone from school for two weeks) once I returned.

After that event, I realized more about what I had been taking for granted in my life, including my family, and months later, after beginning to delve more into myself through introspection, I started to develop my spirituality and consciously acknowledge and learn about my therianthropy. Family is an important thing to me, and it's stood longer than any of my friendships ever have, not just because they are blood-related to me but because of the love and connection emotionally.