blogging

Saying Goodbye to Joyful Paws “Blog”

Posted by Barbara Techel

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I was up early this morning and caught this photo of the moon as I looked out the west side of my writing cottage window. Two words on my brain lately are New Beginnings. Capturing this photo spoke that to me.

Speaking of new beginnings…I’m saying goodbye to Joyful Paws blog. Before you panic and think I’m leaving you, my dear readers, rest assured, that is not the case. I adore each of you for being a part of my life!

As I continue to evolve in my creativity, I recently came across an article that really spoke to me titled, “The Trouble with Blogging.” Writer, Esme, talks about how “blogging is something that, according to hundreds of self-proclaimed online experts, has definitive best practices.” She also mentions how it is also plays into SEO search results and achieving the goal of others signing up for your newsletters, buying your courses or services.

Ever since I began writing, first for my local paper, and then taking it online, and writing my books, it has always been about making a difference. I’ve been about encouraging and inspiring others. This is what matters to me. It also matters to me to leave a positive legacy behind.

While yes, I welcome those reading my thoughts to check out what else I have to offer, I also truly enjoy coming to my little spot right here on the wide world web several times a week to write. I don’t necessarily have a “set” schedule of days I will share something, but I can say, I look so forward to coming here often.

The past seven years my writing has been about how animals play a huge part in my life, helping me to become the person I am today. That remains and I have a pretty strong feeling it always will.  Animals are such an important part of my soul and who I am!

But I feel like I’ve evolved over time, incorporating writing about other ideas and thoughts that intrigue or inspire me, of which I’ve been sharing here on my website (with my built in blog) for awhile now.

I’ve also been giving thought to the fact that I don’t always like to go with the flow of how things “should” be, but rather, what feels right for me, and speaks to the heart of who I am.

I’ve learned so much from a mentor of mine and many on-line classes I’ve taken from him for the past three years. It also goes back to my being coached in 2005 and taking the time to give thought to how I want to play a part in this world.

Making a difference. Building Meaningful Relationships. Leaving a Legacy. This is what is so important to me.

Maybe this is a huge round about way of sharing something that might seem quite simple in regards to the change of a mere word, but for me it encompasses a lot of depth of how I want to continue to evolve in what is authentically me.

So I’m saying goodbye to the word blog.  I will now call this place of my own, with you my faithful readers who come to visit me, Joyful Paws Journal. Because I consider this a place to express my personal thoughts and encourage others to pause and listen to their inner voice, and embrace the wisdom of our animal friends to live a more meaningful life. I also especially love Esme’s definition of journal which is — A journal is something that permits, and often expects, experimentation.

And when I think of experimentation it brings up the words creativity and play for me. Writing is that for me and also how I can share freely what it is I wish to express.

So WELCOME to Joyful Paws Journal, those who have faithfully followed me for years, and those new here. I appreciate and value each and every one of you… and here’s to New Beginnings.

Please feel free to leave a comment…

Messages Like This Bring Tears to My Eyes.

Posted by Barbara Techel

gidget and barb eLate yesterday afternoon I received this message from Kelly who reads my blog, “I can’t tell you how happy I am that you have found Gidget and are back to blogging. I think special needs animals do wonders for the human psyche!”

This brought tears to my eyes because when Joie died I shut down inside. I honestly didn’t know if I wanted to write again. I felt I had nothing more to say. Nothing really made sense to me.

Taking a sabbatical was a tough thing for me to do. I was afraid all the work I had done blogging, writing my books, finding my loyal readers like all of you, and educating others about disc disease and special needs animals would simply vanish. I wondered, could I really walk away for two months?

I questioned if all I had worked so hard to build would not be here when I returned. But I knew I had to step away for awhile. I pride myself in being someone who enjoys sharing, encouraging and inspiring.  We have enough bad news in the world if we want to hear it. I want to be the happy place people can come to.

I debated and finally decided to reach out to a mentor of mine, Dan Blank. He helps authors and writers. I’ve taken many classes from him and admire him greatly. I had a feeling he could help me with my decision. His words of wisdom were just what I needed to trust that this was the right thing for me to do at this time in my life.

I’ll continue to write more about what I learned on my sabbatical in future posts.  Though right now I can say I felt restless and lost many times throughout those sixty days. But now that I am back, I’m so happy to be here again. I also know that was the right thing for me to do.

Of course, having Gidget in my life now has certainly added to my heart feeling so fulfilled again! But to finally feel like me again, back to writing on my blog and giving thought to new projects, seeing that message from Kelly brought me to tears. To me, it is a message from the Universe, sent through Kelly to affirm for me that I am on the right path.

PS:  Kelly, you are 100% right… special needs animals are so good for the human psyche!  And might I add, all animals are special in one way or another and bring us so much joy.