What is an open heart?

In the winter of 2006, Meg Bertini, a vibrant, intelligent publisher for whom I'd done some illustrations, asked me if I'd like to write on the theme Open Your Heart with Pets: Mastering Life through Love of Animals. Meg had launched the "Open Your Heart" series of books on a wide range of subjects and as she knew my love of animals, and of writing, it seemed a good match.
I was excited at the prospect of holding the finished book in my hands, and being able to say I was published by Dreamtime Publishing, but first I had to write it... And, even before that, I spent some time musing about what it means to have an open heart. Here's what I came up with:

An open heart is a heart that feels comfortable saying: "Let's try." "We'll find a way." "Let's learn something new." An open heart is a heart that is not afraid; it knows how to endure sadness. It knows how to heal and how to forgive. It is strong and loving. An open heart is not exclusively feminine or masculine. At its most basic, an open heart is a heart that is not afraid to love deeply. It is not blind to cost, or reason, or practicality--but it's not necessarily governed by those factors either. An open heart sees possibilities. It has vision. It is patient, it is wise.

Most would agree--an open heart is a good thing--for a man or woman with an open heart is a joy and a pleasure to be around. Their positive attitude and energy are infectious, even inspiring. Open-hearted individuals may be leaders or they may be a quiet, constant manifestation of goodness to their immediate circle. Intelligence, good health, family connections, and money are not prerequisites to opening one's heart to a pet. You can begin wherever you are in life's journey--in fact, starting the process lets in that sliver of light on the door of a heart, and we know just how much can grow and happen with the smallest bit of light.

When I put these thoughts to paper, I realized that I would have the easiest of all the Dreamtime authors. Their subjects were basketball, skiing, reading, singing, geocaching, art... Really, what is more able to open one's heart than a pet?

When I was writing Open Your Heart with Pets, I had the pleasure of communicating with pet lovers throughout the U.S. They generously shared their stories, and the response only increased my belief that pets, and their unique instincts and gifts, can give us as much, if not more, than we can give them.