[{"data":1,"prerenderedAt":-1},["ShallowReactive",2],{"$fpVtE-FWa8Bz-IcKU5Zur9BTMA8x9EeHRIzfK90Ohd0I":3,"$fWpM95snWh_1pfBm4SqhUca_B3ZrhZISkw7G9cFcJ3J0":12},{"author":4,"tags":11},{"author_id":5,"author_name":6,"author_name_first_letter":7,"article_count":8,"bio":9,"short_bio":9,"bio_jsonld":9,"slug":10,"image_url":9},31924,"Gary Kowalski","G",2,null,"gary-kowalski",[],{"quotes":13,"pagination":62},[14,36],{"id":15,"quote_text":16,"author_id":5,"source_id":8,"has_image":17,"author":18,"source":19,"quote_tag":20,"commentary":9},216566,"Animals, like us, are living souls. They are not things. They are not objects. Neither are they human. Yet they mourn. They love. They dance. They suffer. They know the peaks and chasms of being.",false,{"id":5,"author_name":6,"slug":10,"author_name_first_letter":7,"article_count":8,"image_url":9},{},[21,26,31],{"id":22,"tag":23},1370210,{"id":24,"tag_name":25},362,"animals",{"id":27,"tag":28},1370211,{"id":29,"tag_name":30},378,"being",{"id":32,"tag":33},1370212,{"id":34,"tag_name":35},3108,"souls",{"id":37,"quote_text":38,"author_id":5,"source_id":8,"has_image":39,"author":40,"source":41,"quote_tag":42,"commentary":61},157204,"We are mortals all, human and nonhuman, bound in one fellowship of love and travail. No one escapes the fate of death. But we can, with caring, make our good-byes less tormented. If we broaden the circle of our compassion, life can be less cruel.",true,{"id":5,"author_name":6,"slug":10,"author_name_first_letter":7,"article_count":8,"image_url":9},{},[43,48,53,56],{"id":44,"tag":45},1012357,{"id":46,"tag_name":47},24,"life",{"id":49,"tag":50},1012356,{"id":51,"tag_name":52},119,"death",{"id":54,"tag":55},1012354,{"id":24,"tag_name":25},{"id":57,"tag":58},1012355,{"id":59,"tag_name":60},3725,"compassion","**The Backstory**\nThis poignant quote is from Gary Kowalski's book \"The Soul of an Octopus: A Surprising Exploration into the Wonder of Consciousness\" (2018). As a naturalist and writer, Kowalski reflects on his experiences observing and learning from octopuses in their natural habitat. At that time, he was likely grappling with the existential questions that come with studying the complexity and vulnerability of non-human lives.\n\n**The Hidden Insight**\nWhat's counter-intuitive about this quote is its subtle critique of anthropocentrism - the tendency to prioritize human experiences over those of other species. By acknowledging our shared fate as mortals, Kowalski highlights the interconnectedness of life, which challenges the notion that we are separate from nature.\n\n**How to Use This**\nIn a fast-paced professional environment where burnout is common, this mindset can be applied by recognizing and valuing the vulnerabilities and struggles of colleagues - not just human ones. By broadening our circle of compassion to include non-human collaborators (like AI or even inanimate tools), we may find more effective and empathetic ways to navigate challenges together.",{"currentPage":63,"totalPages":63,"totalItems":8,"itemsPerPage":64},1,10]