It’s one of the hardest things to wrap our hearts around: Why do we, as humans, abuse the very beings that look to us for care?
You see it in the way animals are mistreated, neglected, or even tortured. And every time, the same question rises—why? Aren’t we supposed to be their guardians?
The truth is, when a person abuses an animal, it’s usually more about what’s going on inside of them than anything to do with the animal itself.
Fear, a lack of control, unresolved anger, pain—sometimes we lash out at those who can’t fight back.
It’s heartbreaking to even think about, but it’s often a reflection of someone’s internal storm.
Hurting what is smaller or weaker becomes a twisted way to assert dominance in a life where they feel powerless.
It’s not an excuse—never that—but it helps us understand that brokenness breeds more brokenness.
Now, lean into this: When we harm each other, it’s the same darkness on a larger scale.
People who abuse other humans are often caught in a spiral of pain themselves—hurt people, hurting people.
But this doesn’t make the abuse any less devastating.
What does it say about us, as a species, when we can’t even see the reflection of ourselves in the suffering of others?
Whether it’s animals or humans, abuse is rooted in disconnection. Somewhere along the line, empathy and understanding get severed, and the heart becomes numb.
It spins my head!
How do we not see that when we harm another, we harm ourselves?
The real question should be, how do we stop this cycle?
How do we turn that disconnection into reconnection?
The simple truth is we are wired for connection.
If we stop seeing each other, stop caring, then we’ve truly lost our way.
It begins with something we all have control over—choice.
The choice to be kind, to be present, and to connect.
When we understand that, maybe, just maybe, we can start turning the tide. Because if we don’t?
We’re not just failing the animals or the people we abuse—we’re failing ourselves.