I was playing with our adopted chipmunk the other day.
I wondered if it played, so, I did the play stance that dogs like. 
I got on all fours, kept my head up, crouched in a ready to launch posture, and put my arms straight out on the floor.
I know, when I do this with dogs, they go nuts. They wiggle their back legs, then run and jump around when I move.
To my surprise, the chipmunk wiggled his backs legs...just like a dog!!!
I wondered how it could be that a chipmunk, so far removed from a dog, could inherit the same behavior.
About then, I realized what I was doing. I was crouched like a cat does when he's stalking his pray.
At this point, I wondered if anyone else had put that together...that playing was a form of teaching self defense to young animals.
I googled it. Other's had come up with the same conclusion, with additional observations, EG - A young giraffe jumping all over the place, a horse doing the same.
I realized, while playing is regarded as fun, its intent is to teach us how to survive. Its another one of those silent voices we hear throughout our lives.
Even insects play.
I wondered if all animals sleep.
As it turns out, most do. Even some trees have been found to sleep. Of course, some might argue that all trees sleep though the winter.
Then again, since we can't find a trees control center, it would be hard to do an MRI on them to prove it.
Now this is a horrible realization about death (kind of)
After watching a slew of CSI shows, I wondered why, after we die, our bodies go into rigor. I wondered why we smell horrible.
And I realized something. Our bodies are preparing themselves to be devoured. The smell, while repugnant to people, is attractive to scavengers.
Our bodies are set to be recycled upon death.
While these thoughts may be considered negative, and even repulsive to many, they do point themselves to an amazing and beautiful truth.
All life on this planet, and probably the universe, is related. The fact almost every animal has two eyes, two kidneys and one liver is no accident.
We are simular in more ways than not. We are related.
And the fact that that little chipmunk plays like a dog, makes me think that defense stategies are passed down to all animals through silent voices.
Many of those silent voices could only come from the memory of animals just moments away from their death.
What I'm saying is, our memories live on past our lives.
Its possible our silent voices (instincts) were passed to us through the animals we have eaten.
Of course, many people would prefer not to think at all about these things and would simply say its God's will.
To those people I say, cool, if not thinking is what works for your truth, then fine. It really makes no difference what we think.
What really matters is, all the lives past and present on this planet are important, and that we go on sending messages long after our lives are over.
Some thought, way back in time, taught the chipmunks and dogs of the world to play.