Today I Met a Sister I Never Knew I Had!

Posted March 14, 2014 by Barbara Techel

Ok, so Lisa Smith-Putnam, Host & Executive Producer of Your Pets, My Dogs radio show,and I, aren’t really sisters. But we had this wonderful connection and we both agreed that we thought we looked somewhat alike in our photos, though obviously our skin color is a wee bit different.

We had a good chuckle over this on one of the breaks and I felt like I was talking with a very good friend. I’ve done quite a few radio interviews, but I just have to say this was one of my favorite to date!

Many interviews I’ve done, have of course, been around Frankie, but such a lovely change of pace when Lisa’s first question to me was, “So who is Barbara Techel?”

I smiled and thought about how years ago I would have been terrified of this question. But I’m finally at a point in my life that I like living in my own skin. I can’t share what I all said and give it away, so you’ll just have to listen to the show when it airs. I’ll be sure to let you know when it does.

I truly enjoyed the angle of which Lisa took with talking with me about Frankie and my book, “Through Frankie’s Eyes” and what I’ve learned from her. It is because of Frankie, that I am who I am today.

Though I didn’t get to say this on air, this thought ran through my mind. I gave Frankie a quality life by caring for her with her IVDD diagnoses and providing her a wheelchair, and she in turn, gave me a quality of life with all the she taught me on how to be proud of who I am and to speak my truth.

When Frankie first became paralyzed I had a pity party for myself for a few weeks until I realized it was up to me to change my attitude about our situation. From that change in attitude, I grew in ways I could have never imagined. My life grew spiritually and I evolved with a deeper connection not only to my pets, but to myself.

While I’ve known this now for quite some time, my radio interview with Lisa really brought it all home for me once again. It also reminds me that there are no accidents. I was meant to have this interview with Lisa… and though we may not really be sisters in the definition we tend to use, I felt this connection with her because of our love for life and our love for animals. It was a wonderful way to end the week!

Smiling Buddha Dog. You Made My Heart Smile Just When I Needed it Most.

Posted March 13, 2014 by Barbara Techel

A big part of me is still struggling with the blog post I shared yesterday. I wanted to be honest and tell you this. It has weighed heavily on me since sharing Daisy’s story yesterday.

While I wanted to help Daisy by sharing her story to help raise medical funds, I realize how much it personally affects me. I’m a highly sensitive person so acts of violence are hard for me to hear, see, or read about. It is rare I will read stories of violence against animals, because it just cuts right through me.

I rarely watch the news either because of the negativity. It affects my psyche and has too much of a negative affect on me, so for my own health, I try to stay away from it as much as possible, as well as cruel things that happen to animals.

I may have likely not even come across Daisy’s story, but someone had personally sent it to me. It’s not the first one I’ve gotten sent to me and usually I won’t read them. While I’m not upset with the person who sent it, I realize again how stories like this affect me deeply.

It was also a reminder to me that I want my blog and Facebook page a place where people can come to for something positive to their day. While sharing Daisy’s story was positive in that I wanted to help her new owner raise some funds, unfortunately the comments that followed on Facebook really disturbed me.

Going through photos on my camera today, I found this photo I had taken of Gidget last week. It said to me that yes, peace and light is how I want to be in this world. I also believe that by being so it does spread that energy of vibration out into the universe affecting others in a positive way. I may never know who is affected in a good way from it, but I have faith it does.

I trust and know that Daisy will be fine and will get the help that she needs– with or without me. I also hope the very disturbed person who did what they did will get the help they need. But because these stories seem to swim in hatred, I can’t share them in the future. The issues around them are just so huge and it overwhelms me.

So while I’m not ignorant to what goes on in our world, I also know there is much good that goes on too. That is what I want to share and be a part of.

I want to be Joyful Paws and continue to share all the amazing lessons our animals teach us. In doing so, I believe this will lead to less violence. I absolutely believe without a doubt that animals are here to teach us peace, compassion and understanding. We have a long way to go at times, but I have hope we will get there. And I want to continue to do my part in this way through my blog in sharing the good stories.

I have my smiling buddha dog, Gidget to remind me of that, as well as my sweet girl, Kylie too, who centers me when I need it most.

Helping Daisy the Paralyzed Dachshund Who was Stabbed & Praying for Peace.

Posted March 12, 2014 by Barbara Techel

Daisy

Today on Facebook I shared something I wouldn’t normally share. The very sad and violent story of a paralyzed dachshund named, Daisy that was brutally stabbed (she is alive, being treated and doing okay).

I won’t normally share stories such as this and add to the hatred and negativity that always seems to come from it. We have so many stories like this in our world and it’s my wish to be a positive light of hope instead of adding to more negativity.

But my heart couldn’t stop thinking about Daisy. I wanted to help by sharing her story on my page in hopes that her new loving caretaker can raise the needed funds to help pay her medical bills. There is also justice that is wanting to be served for the person who did this awful act so he pays for what he did, as well as, stricter laws are put into place to keep this from happening again and again.

I in no way condone what this person did. Not one bit. I can’t even begin to wrap my head around why in the world someone would do this? But one of the reasons I don’t like to share these stories is because often times it breeds more hate and violence.

That isn’t the answer. While I believe there are some who just can’t be helped in this life time, many can. To me this is a huge cry for help from this person’s soul that is clearly in pain and is broken beyond what many of our human minds can even comprehend. It actually makes me want to cry because it is so sad on so many levels.

Is he beyond help? I don’t know. But to act out with words of hatred toward him, I believe, only adds to the violence that has already occurred and we bring more dark and negativity into the world. He needs help! If he can do this to an animal, imagine what he could do to a human being? Should he be walking the streets? No, he needs help.

I don’t know the answer of how to get him the help he does need- as well as many others. But my heart tells me that hate does not solve our problems. It makes them so much worse.

I find myself in a situation again where I wouldn’t have normally written about these things on my blog for fear of what others would think. I also don’t have the answer as to how to help people like this that act out in these terrible ways.

But by saying nothing, I feel just adds to the hatred and negativity. I felt compelled to say how I feel today not to condone what he did, but to help bring light and love to a situation that clearly needs it, just like so many cases like this that we hear day in and day out.

I pray for peace and healing for everyone involved with this. I truly do. And especially for our world so that horrible acts like this will someday no longer exist.