If you look closely, you can see that one hand is under Kitten's armpit, so that there is no actual strangling involved. One of the many good things my mother did for me in this lifetime was teach me how to hold cats without strangling them. Considering this was probably a first try, you can see how the image indicates that I was a natural with animals... they used to call me the Cat Tamer. For reals. I have a knack for even getting mostly feral cats to let me hold them.

Me? I do take your question seriously. I think that's part of what would be answered in the writing of The Thing. Not gonna call it the B word right now. Me. Me equals being comfortable in not knowing who the fuck I am and accepting that as fluidity and freedom. Me equals actually fairly scared of a lot of the things I try and do but try/do them anyway. Me equals haven't been eaten by a bear yet or split my head open on the ice so I'm probably doing ok. Me equals walking around the store oblivious to the giant splat of crow shit on my beanie and collar of my jacket. But also me equals not just me, but the sum of real connections I make with other beings.