Friendships on the saddle

Friendships on the saddle

What can you see in this picture? Do you see a friendship between a human and an animal? Or a master and a lackey? Or do you see the cross- friendships?

After seeing the picture, who do you think is working the hardest? Who benefits most? And who has been exploited and is disadvantaged?

I think all of us will form our own opinions and perceive this picture differently; definitely not everyone is seeing / interpreting the same thing depending on one's worldview or perspectives or it even depends on if you see it through your eyes or your heart.

General perceptions after seeing this picture:

• the person on horseback has the most benefits and advantages as (he or she?) is the master and the horse has to obey with no choice.

• the person on horseback does not always gain the most benefit as he has to look after the horse, providing fodder, a stable, making sure the horse is healthy and strong so it can pull the wagon.

• the person on horseback is gaining the most benefit therefore it is his obligation to look after and provide requisites for the horse, their reciprocal duty.

• the pitiful horse is being exploited and unfairly treated, it's bigger and a lot stronger than the person - why shouldn't it run off?

• the horse has the advantage as the owner has to provide enough food, a clean and comfortable stable and look after its general health and welfare, all these entail considerable cost, without the owner how is the horse is going to live and survive?

Everyone of us has our own appreciation of this picture, perhaps, it's not just this particular picture but everything in life, in this world we all see and think differently depending on our viewpoint, our ideology, education, background and so on.

For myself, I can't really call that 'a friendship' (as such) because a real friendship will never require anything in 'exchange', no reciprocal benefits, not thinking about gaining or losing, no master and no servant but equal companions. Metaphorically, like a piggy bank of friendship that everyone is helping by dropping their care, concern, goodwill, kindness and selfishness - saved up and accrued over the long period of time. And eventually, when it's full, everyone is sharing the equal amount even though it might not be 100% equal but at least it shouldn't make anyone feel that they've been unfairly treated.

Being a giver and a receiver should be based upon mutual consent; one is willing to give and one is not too greedy to receive and think of a way to pay back the kindness if possible and the giver should not feel that one has been taken advantage of and wholeheartedly is willing to give without worrying that one is losing but gaining the gratitude and a long lasting relationship. All of these are demonstrated through our actions not just meaningless words.

Each to their own. Everyone is seeing and thinking about things individually & diversely, it doesn't matter who pulls the cart or who sits on the horses back and harnesses - there will always be someone who has more of an advantage than the others. The most important thing is to understand the others, be empathetic and feel the others' feelings.

And that's because friendship is no one pulling the cart and no one harnessed but both are walking side-by-side and willing to help each other during their long journey.

Thanks for your continued support.

Mr. Moo / @impressable