Wednesdays with the Wisdom of Dog: Beauty

kylie looking out

“Wednesdays with the Wisdom of Dog.” This is part of a weekly series of lessons I’ve learned from my dogs, and/or something I feel they are trying to teach us. I welcome your thoughts on any of the lessons or teachings that resonate with you.

It happens just about every time. Kylie will be gazing contently out the front door. I’ll be drawn to sit beside her.

It’s through her eyes and the whisper of Spirit that calls to me to capture what my eyes can’t always see in my busy day-to-day flurry.

The beauty of seasons that ebb and flow. I stop to be still and in the rhythm of Dogs meditative heartbeat.

Winter with snowflakes that fall ever so gently covering the earth in a quiet hush. Trees so stark with their bare branches extending to the sky. Faithful to the sun knowing that their friends, the leaves, will soon become one with their branches once again.

Spring with Goldfinches flitting from branch to branch. A Robin, ear to the ground, listening and waiting for her next meal. The wind gently blowing through the tiny leaves on the birch tree—nature’s own wind chime. Tiny blades of grass kissed with the dew of the morning. Rain that washes away the old and brings in the new. A rainbow that presents itself as a reminder of hope and all the good in the world.

Summer with hummingbirds zooming in and out, landing but for a brief power sip of nectar from the feeder hanging above. Fresh new spurts of growth emerging from the flower bed next to the garage. Lightning that streaks across the sky in an orchestrated concert with Mother Nature as the conductor. Butterflies floating on the waves of summer breezes.

Fall with the leaves turning brilliant orange, yellow and red. Leaves ever so slowly gliding down from the branches, dancing across the front yard as if to the beat of their own drum.Squirrels hustling from tree to tree gathering their winter feast.

Almost nightly a star twinkling in the sky that catches my eye if I sit in the moment long enough. The moon that casts a warm glow over the earth, into my heart, and down to my toes.

Dog reminds us there is beauty everywhere. We don’t have to look far. It is right here, right now, straight ahead, all around, and within.

What has your animal friend taught you about appreciating beauty?

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Moments that take My Breath Away

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First, just two weeks ago came the check from Darla the dachshund, her wheelie dog brother, Doolittle, and mom, Tricia who raised $350 for The Frankie Wheelchair Fund through a Jamberry Nail campaign they did in January. You may recall, The Frankie Wheelchair Fund granted a wheelchair to Darla when she was with Fuzzy Pet Rescue before Tricia and her family adopted her.

Then today, came a card and a $500 donation from someone I’ve never met that read an article in the Wisconsin State Journal when reporter Barry Adams interviewed me in April of 2013, six months after I had adopted Joie. He said, “I cut the article out intending to send a contribution then. Well, almost 2 years later I am finally following through. You are doing wonderful things and your story and the animals you care for are a blessing.”

I showed the check to John and started crying. He should know me by now and how sensitive (and appreciative!) I am as he said, “Why are you crying?” He meant it nicely and he understands how much this means to me. He smile, hugged me and said, “My emotional girl.”

How can one not be emotional when total strangers give of their hard earned money to support disabled dogs who need a wheelchair, right? Every single dollar that is donated to the fund means the world to me.

It’s moments like this that truly take my breath away and I am reminded of all the good people there are in the world.

Stay tuned for two recent dogs The Frankie Wheelchair Fund was able to grant wheelchairs to:  Nora and Nimby. This makes 40 dogs helped so far through the fund! I hope to have photos soon to share with you.

You can also follow inspiring dogs in wheelchairs on the Facebook page I created for National Walk ‘N Roll Dog Day.

frankie wheelchair fund logo

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Who Says it Has to Be this Way?

g and flowers e

Maybe it was the poem I read last night by Mary Oliver, What I Can Do that inspired me to follow my impulse today, which then led to another impulse to write this journal post.

I’ve been working on a writing project on and off since November 2013. Making more progress with it lately which has me feeling so alive and eager to greet each day.

This morning after finishing my ritual of standing in front of my mandala, reviewing my desires for the year and conditions I wish to live by, I then picked one of my SoulCollage cards from my deck, an angel card and then an animal card. I posed my question to the cards and found answers in them that lit me up inside.

This does not always happen and I have to search deeper for the meaning, but when it feels so right on and so clear, well, that to me, is magical… and inspiring.

I did my yoga practice and as I was moving through each pose I heard my inner voice suggest that after I was done I should go right to my writing desk and work on my writing project. It felt so freeing to think this. But then the other part of me, who is so conditioned to follow “rules” of which I’ve for the most part imposed on myself, showed up.

And the loop began, “You can’t write first. You have to first get ready for the day, put your make up on, curl your hair, eat your breakfast,” and on and on the list went of what I normally do – my normal routine.

Thank goodness my free will side was stronger today and it was having nothing of what my conditioned self was trying to tell me.

I fought back. “What do you mean I have to do those things first?  Who says? I want to write first. Who cares if my hair isn’t curled or I don’t have make up on. Really, does that matter?  I want to follow this impulse and see where it goes.”

I was challenging that part of myself that has to always have things in a neat orderly fashion and it felt incredibly liberating to know I was going to follow through on what was calling me to do.

And I did it. I rolled up my yoga mat and immediately plunked my butt in my chair. My fingers flew across the keyboard, much like they are right now, eager to share my voice with the page.

There are so many “rules” and how society says we should live our lives that our inner voice gets lost in all the noise. I don’t want to live like that. I want a life that is meaningful to me. One that matters most to me.

What I can do is follow the path that is right for me. What I can do is live from the heart and center of who I am. What I can do is be an example of what it means to follow our impulses and see where it can lead us.

While there may not be fireworks going off in the sky announcing that yes, Barbara Techel, just went against the “rules,” and followed what felt right to her, I must say that there a is a welcome and warm fire burning inside of me that feels delicious.

That flow of life, that when you are in it, you never want it to leave. But I won’t worry about that now. Because what I can do is ride this wave. Enjoy it. Savor it. Recall it when I need for next time my conditioned self tries to win a battle.

What I can do is life by my own inner light of desires.

Though it is expected to be well below average in temps this week and another blast of cold air on it’s way Wednesday and Thursday, what I can do is think Spring — and so the photo of Gidget above I share from last summer after a successful day shopping at our local Farmer’s Market.

Should you enjoy the writing you find here, you may wish to subscribe to my newsletter (on right hand side of post) or my RSS Feed. I’d love it if you would also share through your favorite social media network. Thanks for visiting!