If I could be any animal in the world, I would choose to be a monkey.
A stuffed animal monkey lays in my grasp every night, giving me a sense of comfort that nothing can compare to. I can’t fall asleep without holding something in my arms, and my monkey helps me with that.
I have acquired many stuffies throughout the years, but none of them hold the same value to my heart.
Monkeys have always been a source of fascination to me; they are so similar to humans while being so unbelievably different. They have the ability to do what they want without being judged by those around them.
Every time I visit a zoo, I await the moment of interaction with my favorite animal. Those memories hold such a high moment of happiness in my heart. I feel so utterly understood in the presence of a monkey.
They may not understand what exactly is happening, but that doesn’t make it any less special to me.
The monkey I hold in my arms represents everything I wish I had. I wish I was my monkey.
Always loved and cared for; he is always picked from the crowd of animals sitting atop my bed. Never having the feeling of being left out by his peers.
He isn’t the first monkey to supply me comfort, though, it started with one from my childhood. Spending the day at Build-A-Bear Workshop with my mom is where it all started. I created something I would’ve never known would give me such a deep connection.
This new monkey may be different, but it still gives me that same feeling of comfort that I so desperately long for. Although he is an inanimate object, he never makes me feel alone. Maybe it makes me weird, but I see it as a part of me that holds love for everything she has.
My connection with monkeys has shown me just how important it is to do what you want. Monkeys are independent and intelligent, and so am I, or at least I hope that I am.
At night, with my monkey in my arms, I am able to envision myself in its place: being scared of nothing and doing everything.
Not only does it bring me back to my childhood monkey, but the creation of my new stuffed animal holds a memory that I will never forget. My sister was home for Thanksgiving, and we decided to go Black Friday shopping, something I had never done before. After our long day of shopping, she tagged along with me for the 30-minute drive all the way to Rivertown Crossings Mall just so I could get the animal I wanted. Anytime I think of my stuffed monkey, I will have a remembrance of both a heart-warming memory and something I desperately hope to be.
Though they are animals, monkeys can do so much.
