WHAT IS RESONANCE?
Check out this video below that recently went viral.
It’s a great commercial but more than that, it tells the kind of story that resonates.
After you watch it, please continue reading this blog post:
Need a Kleenex? I did.
What makes this little story so memorable is not just the imagery and soundtrack, but the connection it makes to anyone who has loved a pet, lost a loved one, or experienced any of the things we saw in this commercial. It tugs on the strings that are closest to my heart, connected to the deepest love, pain, and memories.
Why do we use the word resonance?
On a musical instrument like the cello–even with nothing touching it–if another object vibrates at the same frequency as one of its strings, it will start to sound. It’s called a sympathetic vibration. That’s an apt term because there is a sympathetic resonance between stories that touch us, that evoke familiar feelings and experiences.
How did this commercial resonate with me?
In the very first scene, Maddie the Golden Retriever is lying on the “hospital bed” with an EKG beeping in the background, her owner getting ready to say goodbye. This reminded me so much of my mother’s passing more than a decade ago–the sounds, the lighting, the tears welling up…
Mom had bravely fought ALS (Lou Gherig’s Disease) for five years. When her time had come, we all flew in to be at her side. We were so blessed to see her radiant and full of joy, because she was more than ready to go home to the Lord, and that we were all able to be there to send her off. How many people are so fortunate to be able to say goodbye, to bless and be blessed, and say and receive final words of love and affirmation? She spent her last conscious moments comforting all of us!
I held her hand until the very end as we prayed over her and said our goodbyes.
Dad, a preacher, recited from the Good Book: “I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith. Now there is in store for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will award to me on that day…”
A few moments later, Mom left us.
We shed tears, to be sure. I’m weeping right now, as I recall that day.
But I can’t think of a better way to say good-bye–surrounded by those you love, blessing them and inspiring them with your courage and joy.
I fail to do that day justice, but sometimes words are just not enough. Watch the video again, and you’ll feel the sympathetic vibrations which mere words cannot express.
How about you? How does this commercial (or this blog post even) resonate with you? I’d love to hear your story in the comments
Joshua Graham is a New York Times and USA Today bestselling author, winner of the International Book Award and Forward National Literature Award. His thrillers include DARKROOM, LATENT IMAGE and BEYOND JUSTICE, and TERMINUS. Graham's works have been characterized as thought-provoking page-turners.
Legal Notice: All information on this website and blog are from Mr. Graham's personal experience and insight and should not be viewed in any way, directly or inferred, as qualified professional advice.
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This commercial unlocked a place in my soul, the inside of which I haven’t seen for years. I shed tears, but I’m glad it affected me so. How about you?
Just what I need a good cry. I have already lost one Golden Retriever and my Bailey Boy is now 10. I see him beginning to slow down and show the signs of his age . The love of a dog is so totally unconditional. They simply love you despite how many stupid human things we may do. Unconditional love… like that a parent has for their child. …. like the love that God has for His children. I was there when LuLu died and will be there to the end with my Bay when his time comes. I was with my mom and the end of her life.. holding her hand. I can’t see a video like this and not feel the loss of my mom.
I think having pets is very much like having children. Only pets are with us for so much shorter a time. I had a feeling you would connect with this video, Paula. Thanks for sharing.
I have always had pets, especially dogs, having been a rather quiet and shy person as a child, my pets were my best friends. As an adult I have learned to be comfortable with who I am, but the one thing that has never changed is that my pets are still my best friends. They give unconditional love, never judge, are always happy to see me come through the door, and are my source of solace when things are tough. They have seen me through surgery for breast cancer, and reveled in my recovery, been by my side for hikes, camping, and kayaking, and never question my loyalty to them and their wellbeing. I am a nurse and can also relate to your experience with you Mom passing. I have a very strong pull toward patients who are at the end of this life and have always made a point of never letting a patient die alone. How fortunate for your Mom and your family that you could be there for her. My heart breaks for all the people who have no one to be there for them at the end. Some have driven people out of their lives, others were the last survivors of their circle, but I would always make a point of being there to hold their hand when the time was near. For me, for some reason (and I pretty much gave up trying to figure out why) it is the saddest thing to die all alone. Thanks for letting me share. God bless. 🙂
Thanks for sharing. Bless you for being there for people at the end.
My mother was an RN (Head nurse).
Bless your Mom too! I’m sure she shared stories over the years as I have with my kids. Becoming a nurse was one of the best things I have ever done. Wouldn’t change it for the world! As for the pets…I can’t imagine living life without them. I have always adopted my pets from the Humane Society or local shelter, but as the saying goes…Who saved who? 🙂