I felt crabby most of the weekend which isn’t like me. But I couldn’t seem to shake it. Perhaps it was the combination of website challenges I was having (my website now up and running again- whew), or my email not working, which I’m still working on, or maybe the frigid weather that seems to be relentless. But whatever the reason or reasons, I couldn’t even stand myself at times.  Ever get that way?

After a frustrating day of trying to get my email to work, I gave up. I sat down in my over-sized maroon chair, with Gidget next to me, and decided I needed to read something uplifting. I decided to read my friend, Dawn’s newsletter, Animal Voices. Am I glad I did!

In her newsletter she shared a video called, “The Incredible Story of How Leopard Diablo Became Spirit.” A 13-minute excerpt about the story about a leopard brought to a sanctuary from a zoo in Europe where he had been abused.

Jurg, who runs Jukani Wildlife Sanctuary, was at a loss of how to help Diablo who was miserable. He was a skeptic of animal communication, but didn’t know what else he could do to help this leopard who was so troubled. He decided it was worth a shot to have Anna Breytenbach “talk” with Diablo.  What happened had my eyes filling with joyful tears.

After watching the video, my mood shifted immediately. I was reminded that there is so much we don’t have control over. Watching what happened for Diablo, who became Spirit, reminded me of the bigger picture of life. There is so much amazing beauty around us. If we take the time to find that center, the rest of what is challenging, falls away.

After you watch this video I think you may agree, that yes, we can communicate with our animal friends. We’ve always had this ability, but have lost it because we’ve gotten swallowed up by doing instead of being.

It was a reminder to me once again of the love I have for animals. How truly being in the moment with Kylie or Gidget really centers me. How they make me feel happy to be alive.

I watched the video two more times last night and then drifted off to sleep with a smile on my face. The crabbiness all but a memory.

Today as I was practicing yoga and was in downward dog, I thought again about Diablo, now Spirit, and how I want to be open to an even deeper connection with my dogs. Just then, Gidget appeared next to my face, staring into my eyes.

She had been sleeping in her bed by the fire, but wondered over, which she rarely does. I smiled and held downward dog a bit longer, just being with her in that moment. I didn’t want the moment to end. She walked over to the center of my yoga mat, doing a little jig of sorts so I shook my head side to side with my hair brushing against her to engage her in a little play.  This lasted for about a minute and then off she went to her bed again.

I wondered what may have made her come over to me at that exact moment. But then I realized I was in a place of contentment thinking about our connection with animals replaying the video of the leopard in my mind. Perhaps Gidget sensed this and came to reassure me that we are all connected and we are all one.

After I was done with my yoga, I sat for a few moments with Gidget, just gazing into her eyes. I chuckled and said, “You really are my little Buddha dog, aren’t you?”

I hope the video leaves you in much awe and wonder of our animal friends and all they are teaching us, as it did me.