A Dogs Life

Dogs can be best friends, healers, and teachers. I would extend this sentiment to any animal a person can connect with. By opening our hearts, we create trust between species, long-term friends mutually benefiting from love and nurturing. My favorite reminder is my cat, Bandit. He reminds me to be present, an intention I set at my turning point years ago. How many times do we ignore or push away our pets? When Bandit crawls onto my lap, I purposely set aside what I am doing and spend those moments with him, focusing on the feelings of love, trust, and connection. There is no other place I need to be.

I am reminded of how Hope For Paws changed my life. Hope For Paws rescue videos encouraged me to reconnect with my emotions and feelings. If you have not seen them, founder Eldag Hagar takes us on his rescue journeys of stray animals, documenting rescue to recovery. Where else can you move through grief, hopelessness, compassion, happiness, joy and love for life in five minutes? 

The most significant video for me generated my biggest “Aha!” moment and helped me understand the patterns and limitations we constantly struggle with. It is the story of Miley, living with mange, emaciated in a trash pile. The white husky is missing much of her fur and is too exhausted to move. When Eldag assists her with standing and heading towards a new life, she actually fights a few times to return to her “bed” in the trash.

This is such a great metaphor for my own life and the lives of those around me. How many times, when faced with the unknown, do we too often choose to return to the familiar because we are unsure of what is on the other side: hope, healing, love, relief, freedom from pain, and joy. How do we overcome our fear and create change?

Eldag provides a gift; he builds a relationship of trust. He spends an hour in the trash pile with Miley, feeding her, petting her (despite mange and parasites), and talking with her. Once in the car, reassured about her safety, she finally naps.  Following treatment, she sleeps for three days. She meets a frightened, recently rescued dog; they quickly bond as Miley plays, and they begin to support each other. They demonstrate that the greatest amount of progress in our journey is a balance of give and take, receiving care and caring for others. It takes a toll on our well-being when that balance is unequal.

Through witnessing these vulnerable animals, we realize that connection with others helps to overcome our own obstacles, and, in my own life, this has manifested successfully. Applying these lessons to relationships with people; stepping outside my comfort zone; presence, trust, compassion and believing in a positive outcome allows me to express myself most authentically

Original article appears in Sibyl Magazine: For the Spirit and Soul of Womanwww.SibellaPublications.com