I Remember the Day My Eyes Opened

Posted by Barbara Techel

Photo Credit

Last Friday in the Creative Book Salon I belong to we were discussing the book, The Beauty of Different by Karen Walrond. The book is about how we are each uniquely different and learning to accept that is what makes each of us special. This is not an easy place to come to for many of us. But Karen’s photography beautifully captures the different of those who posed for her and those who shared their stories in the book.

We each discussed what we feel makes us different. Though when Cynthia, the facilitator, first asked this it felt heavy and deep. I think for me because I just tend to think too deep sometimes! But how enlightened I became as I realized my different is in the way in which I see specials needs animals, especially those with IVDD and dogs in wheelchairs, and how passionate I am about sharing their message of hope and inspiration.  As I realized looking at this as what makes me different, it did not make me feel odd, but rather quite unique and special. When we find what makes us “different” I think it helps us put the rest of our life in perspective. At least this has been the case for me.

As we each talked about the book one of the gal’s mentioned that she remembered the day her eyes opened explaining what came to life for her. I was fascinated by how she used this verbiage to express this, “when her eyes opened.” When we are born our eyes open to the world around us.  So much to see and explore and learn. And then at some point it seems as if our eyes close again. How lucky those of us are that open our eyes once again. I understood this completely as it has happened to me. It happened over eight years ago when I knew I wanted to live my life differently. More simply. I still remember the day (though not exact day) driving down the highway and how blue the sky seemed all of a sudden. How really green the grass was. How gorgeous the clouds in the sky were. How amazing the trees were.  They came to life!  It may sound odd, but that is what it felt like to me. Like I was seeing all of this for the first time.

Since then I’ve made a conscious choice to not lose that.  It is a practice, but one I welcome as I continue to grow and evolve.  And thankful for books like The Beauty of Different and connecting with the gal’s in the Creative Book Salon who helped to remind me the beauty of keeping my eyes wide open.

The Animal Anthology Project Published! Includes the Story of Frankie the Walk ‘N Roll Dog’s Therapy Work

Posted by Barbara Techel

From The Animal Anthology Project Blog:

Featuring stories from the nation’s most reknowned authors of animal tales, The Animal Anthology Project has been published. Contributors include notable Lois Duncan (Hotel for Dogs), Bob Tarte (Kitty Cornered), Sy Montgomery (The Good Good Pig), Irene Pepperberg (Alex & Me), Carl Safina (Song for the Blue Ocean), J.A. Jance (NY Times bestselling author of the Ali Reynolds series), Dr. Marty Goldstein (Starring in Oprah as America’s premier holistic veterinarian), and Hugh Warwick (A Prickly Affair: My Life with Hedgehogs).

To buy the book either head to your local bookstore or go on amazon.com. To help The Animal Anthology Project and the Best Friends Animal Society buy a book today! Out of more than 1,000 submission we have selected our favorite 50 to appear in print.

I’m very honored and proud to be among all these wonderful authors whose story was accepted and now published in this book done my 16-year old Christine Catlin.

Life With A Snugglebug. Another New First.

Posted by Barbara Techel

Today was the first time Joie snuggled up with me on my over-sized wicker chair and ottoman and we took a quick cat nap together.  Not that we haven’t snuggled since she got here, because believe me, we do that every chance I get!  But today was the first time we cuddled together in my writing cottage in my wicker chair.

I couldn’t help but think about how “firsts” are so fun when you have a new pet but how hard they are when you lose a pet.  So many “firsts” I went through this summer after Frankie passed.  The first morning not helping her go potty, the first time not filling her bowl, the first time I couldn’t hold her, the first time I ran an errand without her, the first time I took a walk without her, the first night I went to bed without her at my side, and on and on the firsts went.  Getting through all of them was difficult and felt overwhelmingly heavy at times.

As I’ve now experienced lots of new firsts with Joie it’s such a good place to be in my heart again. It is such an amazing reminder that this is all part of life.  You can’t have a first without a last.  You can’t have sunshine without rain. You can’t have happy without sad. You can’t have life without death. Without firsts and lasts we’d never really truly appreciate and value this thing called life.