My Projection of Fear

Posted by Barbara Techel

2013-12-20 11.36.52

I updated my Facebook cover yesterday to this photo above of Kylie and Gidget. Lots of awww’s and priceless comments were made which made me smile.

But it also sprung up a thought for me. I love seeing these two snuggled together. It’s a welcome sight these days. One I’ve not seen in many years.

When Frankie became paralyzed, Kylie was only six months old. I was a nervous wreck that Frankie would rupture another disc and so often I found myself saying no to Kylie when she tried to play or snuggle with Frankie.

Then with Joie, I was a bit more relaxed, but still cautious.

While yes, we have to be careful with these little ones so prone to disc disease, we also have to find a balance of not living on the edge of “what if” all the time.

With Gidget being my third doxie with IVDD, I understand more clearly that this is my projection of fear.

Being aware that this is my issue and not letting fear get in the way is half the battle. While it’s good to be cautious, I also want Gidget and Kylie to feel happy and comfortable with each other. As you can tell by the photo that appears to be the case. Grin.

As I mentioned yesterday, I’ll be going to a weekend training, this weekend. I’m putting into practice not letting fear get in the way of leaving Gidget behind knowing she is in good hands.

John has been awesome learning how to express Gidget’s bladder the last few days, and he is actually doing quite well at it like he’s always done this!

I also have a gal who has her own business taking care of people’s pets who will be stopping over a few times to help with Gidget while I’m away. Gidget did very well with her, and she with Gidget, which helps lessen my fear.

I know it’s natural for me to have this fear because of my past experience in being away and then Frankie became paralyzed. But I also know I want to surrender and let go of living in that fear when I want to step out on my own now and then.

Gidget is once again being a great teacher for me with this. And again, the very reason I call her my Buddha dog. She helps me to be still and move through any fear or doubt and put my faith in the hands of God/Spirit.

Letting Go of What Was. Ready to Explore New Territory. Thank You, Frankie.

Posted by Barbara Techel

soulcollage card

Frankie crossed my mind this morning. She often does. I welcome it. I cherish it. I find much joy in it. I no longer mourn her being gone, but am grateful she was part of my life.

To mourn her forever would mean, to me, that I wouldn’t be honoring her life and all the blessings she brought me.

She has been on my mind also as I’ve been working through a personal challenge. I’m happy to say I feel so much better after four weeks of guidance that I sought to help me through this.

While I don’t want to share the specific challenge, I will share that I discovered something that was buried. I was surprised this came up as I didn’t realize it was even there, nor did it particularly feel connected to the challenge I was going through.

But what I’ve realized is that I never fully mourned the loss of the work I did with Frankie. While I moved through the grieving process of losing Frankie herself, the work we did together visiting schools and doing therapy dog work, is something I was still hanging onto.

In part, because I didn’t know what the next leg in my journey looked like. I’m still not quite sure “what is next,” but after journaling through an exercise called transitional grieving, I literally felt this shift of energy in myself.

I now find myself celebrating all that it was – all those glorious years of work with Frankie – instead of wishing it never ended.

Celebrating all that I learned from Frankie which has made me who I am today. Celebrating how I grew through challenges of fear, talking in front of crowds, learning to write a book, sharing my voice and how I feel about dogs in wheelchairs and dogs with disc disease, worrying less about what others think of me, and letting that inner light of who I am shine through.

So as I get ready to embark on a new learning adventure, I smile because of her.

Friday I leave for a weekend training in Madison, WI to learn more about SoulCollage. A technique that has captured my fascination the last few months.

A process of listening deeper to our wise selves and capturing those whispers on 5 x 8 cards that you create individual collages from using images from magazines. The card above is one I created yesterday.

If not for Frankie, I don’t know if I would have been brave enough to do this training. For one thing, I’m going alone. I don’t know one single soul that will be there. The woman I knew ten years ago would have never done this.

Frankie is a big reason why I’m stronger today than years ago. More willing to take steps out into the world then before.

But it is all part of my souls plan — I see this — I see it in my recent challenge that I feel I’ve made great progress on also.

Frankie was, and continues to be my guide, as I step forward into new territory to be explored.

I think back fondly to the first day she took off in her wheelchair after not walking for three months from a diagnoses of disc disease which left her paralyzed.

How she encouraged me to be who I am by her example. To follow what makes my heart happy. To live fully.

So I carry her with me in my heart as I head to the training this weekend. Her life lessons still with me, and I have no doubt will always be with me until eternity.

Come Meet Sadie. 34th Recipient of a Dog Wheelchair from The Frankie Wheelchair Fund.

Posted by Barbara Techel

sadieThis past summer at a fundraiser for a local horse sanctuary, I met this beautiful dog named Sadie.

I would learn that she came from Kentucky two years earlier where she had given birth to puppies and was then shot in the head and the back, and left for dead.

It’s a gut wrenching story and pulled hard at my heart strings. My mind not able to wrap itself around why someone would do this.

The shot to her back is what paralyzed her and the bullet is still lodged in her spine. To remove it is too dangerous. But the bullet from her head was successfully removed.

She can hobble around, but also is pulled around in a wagon type device when she tires.

I wanted to see if I could help and asked if the owner, Joal, had tried a wheelchair for her and I told her about Eddie’s Wheels. She shared with me that a wheelchair had been donated from another company, but Sadie wouldn’t even stand up in it.

Because it wasn’t a custom-fitted wheelchair that was donated at the time, I felt perhaps a custom wheelchair may help Sadie. I told Joal about The Frankie Wheelchair Fund and said I thought it was worth a try. She agreed and was grateful for the help.

Joal has given all the best care to Sadie and Sadie has a great vet and physical therapist that is helping her. She is taking slow to the wheelchair, but I hope in time, it will become second nature for her.

While most dogs that need a wheelchair take to it almost immediately, some need more time and help. Such is the case with Sadie. But we aren’t giving up hope.

As long as she is willing to try, and that seems to be the case, then I’m so glad she has a wonderful team of people doing all they can to hopefully get her rolling soon.

To learn more about Sadie and follow along with her story, you can visit her on her Facebook page.

***Wheelchair I recommend and work with for The Frankie Wheelchair Fund is Eddie’s Wheels.

Learn more about The Frankie Wheelchair Fund

You can learn more on our website, National Walk ‘N Roll Dog Day where you can apply for funds or donate.