Not necessarily beyond rational calculation as it says. I’ve come to realize I like both people and animals because there’s a similar piece of me that relates to certain qualities of theirs. So it helps me be brave and do things at home. It’s me doing performance art at home to get things done and navigate my anxiety that has me avoid things I need to get done.

If I’m afraid of showering, now I’m a big blue whale that dives into the bath. If I’m at the hospital and I need to use a rail, I’m a bird that perches on rails with my hands, ignoring risk of covid until I’m home and can wash my hands. (I used to sanitize my hands too much.) If I’m on the floor at home, I can choose to put my dirty hair on a pile of clean laundry because I’m a cat and this is my new bed.

It just makes my life easier. I’m navigating control issues. I can really get into it at home. And I hope I get even more into it. I have dreams where I’m comparing my life to lives of animals too.

If you respect, like, and enjoy a person or animal, I think its likely you have the same trait within you. Expressed or not.

Adding indigenous culture in my question was to be inclusive to those who really are indigenous.