What's love got to do with it

I never read the book Love Languages, I skimmed thru it. 
That's something I'm guilty of as a life-long reader I tend to tear through things.
And if it's something I just want to get the gist of, I'm even worse.
That approach did NOT work with biochemistry, as my grades would attest.
Here's the cheat sheet; words of affirmation, physical touch, acts of service, quality time, receiving gifts.
This morning as I walked by Maisy, she looked up at me with expectant eyes, as I'm the overseer of anything interesting around here.
I was in oblivious hustle mode, so I mindlessly reached down to pat her head.
She lifted her leg expectantly, hoping for a belly scratch, which is when I realize Maisy's love language is just that - belly scratch.
So I stopped, bent down, and scratched her sweet little yellow belly.
Who can resist the sweetness she offered?
Me, in hustle mode apparently.
My bad. 
Funny isn't it? All the mindless little pats we went out into the world?
All those little 'oh yea, here you go's' we throw around.
On our dogs, on our horses, to each other.
Pat pat pat.
Gosh, thanks, that was satisfying.
We don't try that nonsense with cats, because they'll have no part of it.
Pat a cat.
Go ahead, I dare ya.
We do it, because we feel some desire to make contact, but we use a short hand, an actual floppy hand, to convey that.
Horses don't much enjoy being patted, do they?
All sentient beings have a language.
It may not all be a 'love' language, but if we define love here as something that makes us feel good or safe or seen or appreciated or comfortable or not anxious, it makes sense right?
Horses have tried to make that clear to us for years, and it's taken us so-dang-long to say I hear you, hasn't it?
To stop patting, to wait, not to approach every horse we see by reaching out for their face, for touching animals who are not asking to be touched.
To wait, and to approach and touch or not touch based on what the dog/horse/person is telling us.
With words, or by their body language.
I'm guilty on so many levels. I'm a hugger and I'm learning to restrain myself from hugging people I barely know.
If we ever meet IRL and you see me coming, know that I'm actively processing DON'T TOUCH THEM in the bubble over my head.
But if you want a hug, I'm your girl.
Decades of conditioning to being mind-less of how we interface with animals created this sense of entitlement over the physical agency of animals.
Fortunately, we are on a journey to become mindful.
It takes a lot of work, but it's a beautiful thing when you feel the difference isn't it?
I'd love to hear about your love language and how you show it and share it.
xox