Special Celebrations!

Posted by Barbara Techel

You get one guess! Guess who is celebrating a birthday?  How did you know?  It’s true. Miss Gidget turned twelve this month.

The thing is, I don’t really know when her birthday is. Nor do I know her exact age. But from the records I received when I adopted her from a rescue five and a half years ago, this is the best guess.

In a newsletter I sent out earlier today it has a feature that shares wisdom from Gidget. She had this to say:  Happy 12th Birthday to me! My secret to life? Act like you are still two years old! One of my nicknames is “fidgety gidgety” as I sometimes tend to not sit still. But I also have my quiet moments. So my words of wisdom to you? Be still and squiggle too!

She appears to be smiling in this photo, don’t you think? I do and it makes my heart happy. Gidget has more than earned that smile. We have traveled quite the journey together of what at times has felt like more downs than ups. 

But of late, the rewards reaped from doing my personal inner work healing a childhood wound has resulted not only in more peace within me but Gidget too. I’ll be sharing that journey in my next memoir, I’m Fine Just the Way I Am. 

As has been the case with every dog I’ve been blessed to share my life with, Gidget was a reflection I needed at this time in my life that had me going through what is sometimes defined as a “dark night of the soul.”

It feels incredibly good to be on the other side of the darkness. Looking at this photo of Gidget I see and feel a lightness about her. It is definitely a reflection for me also.

What a dog of depth she is, though sweet and silly too. I often think about how I began calling her my Buddha dog when she first came to live with me and John in 2013. She has been the most beautiful beacon of light to my soul that felt lost for so long.

So… Happy Birthday dear Gidget! You wear the princess crown well. You are a dog of grace and wisdom and I’m so grateful for the unconditional love and sacred space you’ve held for me. xoxoxoxo

Speaking of celebrations!….there is more!

Yesterday afternoon John and I attended a special celebration in honor of this 90-year young lady! Many moons ago (25 years!) I worked with Marilyn at Kohl’s Dept store. She worked in the lingerie department. She was so meticulous with the many “unmentionables!”  She took great pride in keeping all the bras and panties neat as a pin on the clothing racks. I don’t know how she did it! Such patience she had. Many of us fondly called her the “Bra Lady.” For her retirement party, I still remember the “boob” cake with the adorning lace bra. It was quite the hit! It was an honor to celebrate her then as it was yesterday.

She loved the top I had on and especially loved the sleeves. I told her they are my angel wings. After I saw this photo of her and me, I was struck by the “angel wing” across her.  When we had arrived, Marilyn greeted John and me away from the other guests to tell us she is dealing with a cancer diagnosis that has no cure. 

Seeing this “angel wing” draped across her it’s my hope that angel wings indeed will be her guide and at her side, for however long she continues to be with us. Her spirit and attitude is nothing short of amazing. I have no doubt that has been her secret to reaching 90. 

The highlights of life that make the journey so worth it!

XO,

Barbara

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Robin Had a Message for Me About the Writing Process

Posted by Barbara Techel

I spied this Robin gathering materials for her nest outside my bedroom window this morning. How exciting to see new life is in progress!

With her mouth full of materials, I watched as she flew to the dwarf lilac tree, hopped carefully through the tight-knit branches and added to her creation of what will soon be her home sweet home. What a perfect tree for her to build her nest where she will raise her first brood. It faces the east and gets lots of morning sunshine. Not to mention the bonus for me as I can see it from my bedroom window and my writing cottage window.

I couldn’t help but think how I’m nesting just like the Robin. No, I’m not expecting. Well, in a way, I guess you could say I am.

Late last week I received feedback from one of my beta readers for my upcoming memoir, I’m Fine Just the Way I Am. To me, writing a book is like different stages of life. From starting with the idea to writing the draft, to reworking it until it feels right to send out to beta readers, to reworking it again, then sending it off to the editor, and reworking yet again, and then finally… off to the printers! But it doesn’t’ end there.

As I watched the Robin gathering materials, adding them to what will soon be a completed nest, which will soon be filled with eggs, to her sitting on her eggs until they hatch, and eventually her baby birds who will fly off into the world on their own.

I realized writing this book the importance of the nesting stage has been for me. I’ve been preparing myself emotionally along with news things I always seem to learn about the writing process, to eventually sending my book out into the world.

I really don’t know where it will land, but yet I trust that it will.

And speaking of my book….back to the nest I must go and give new life to the text that needs reworking!

XO,

Barbara

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Animal Oracle Wisdom for February 2019

Posted by Barbara Techel

Direct link to video via my youtube channel here.

Time again for my monthly animal wisdom oracle reading!

Beaver has some sound and solid guidance for us. Today I  also incorporated some wisdom from The Wisdom of the Oracle deck that I hope you’ll enjoy.

Thanks for listening!

XO,

Barb