What a delightful, deep, funny, and thought-provoking conversation and being interviewed by Australian native and teacher of deliberate creation awakening consciousness, Karen Swain.
I hope you enjoy this conversation as much as I did spending time with Karen talking about healing with animals, evolving, and living our best lives. Just click here or on the graphic above to listen!
XO
Barb
Sunday night with a fire in the woodstove, an adult beverage in hand, and John sitting across from me on the sofa, we tuned in on Facebook live to watch as Dog Writers Association of America (DWAA) announced the winners of the 2020 writing competition.
Since 1935 DWAA has been helping writers spread the word about all things dog. What’s not to love about that, right?
Every year they sponsor this competition to recognize the best essays, articles, blogs, websites, photos, and books, plus a new category this year from young writers.
I’m not sure if it was because of Covid and everyone had more time to write plus the fact many were home more with their pets, but the host, Carol Bryant shared that this year they received many more entries than usual.
I was honored when I received notice late last year that I was a nominee in two categories for my latest memoir, I’m Fine Just the Way I Am:
Regular Category
Human/Animal Bond
Special Award Category
Rio Award – profiles a dog who changed someone’s life in a profoundly positive way sponsored by award-winning journalist, Jen Reeder and her husband, Bryan Fryklund in honor of their beloved Labrador retriever mix, Rio.
No matter what, I was honored to have been placed among the nominees. Though secret be told, my heart was really drawn to the Rio Award – I could just feel something deep and special about it and though I don’t know Jen and Bryan or their story with Rio, it just felt right at home in my heart and the impact dogs have had on my life.
So yes, truth be told, I was thinking how lovely it would be to win the Rio award. And just before they announced the winner of the award, my heart began to flutter, and when they announced my name, yup, I got very emotional and teary-eyed. I’m not ashamed to admit to that! 🙂
Writing I’m Fine Just the Way I Am was one of the hardest books I’d written to date in regards to sharing the shame I’d carried for most of my life that repeated often in my life in different circumstances. But it was Gidget, my dear, sweet, and wise Buddha dog who so lovingly walked beside me to help me heal.
And so it was beautiful to be recognized in this way.
After my name was announced I jumped up from my chair, ran to what I call my ‘wall of love’ with photos of all the dogs I’ve had to date in my life and photos of John and myself. I grabbed the photo of Gidget and said, “We did, Gidget! We did it!” and I kissed the photo of her.
The next morning lying in bed, I took a moment to connect with Gidget and thank her once again for all she was (and still is!) to me. In my heart, I saw myself rubbing her belly, and kissing the side of her face, both of which I could never get enough of doing when she was here on the physical plane.
A big congratulations to all the nominees and winners – and in the end – I’d say without a doubt in my mind that we are all winners for the opportunity to have the love of animals in our lives.
XO
Barb
It was the beginning of the pandemic when I released my third memoir, I’m Fine Just the Way I Am – Healing Emotional Pain through the Wisdom of Animals and Oracles. While I’d contemplated holding off on the release because I just didn’t know what to expect during a time of upheaval, I made the choice to just allow what was to be, to be.
A part of me felt strongly my story fit in with what we were experiencing as we moved deeper into the pandemic as we all tried to make sense of what was happening.
As we are nearing the close of 2020 it has become clear to me that so much of this year has been about learning to tune into our own hearts and follow the guidance that feels right for us – despite what we may hear from the outside world, which has been conflicting on so many levels.
How often we fear the judgment or rejection of others and how many of us have felt unworthy. My memoir shares my journey of exploration, uncovering, and revealing the root cause of why I felt unworthy most of my life. It was my dear and wise dachshund, Gidget, that lovingly walked beside me, mirroring for me what I needed to look at and finally heal.
While it was a journey that was filled with emotional pain unlike any I’d felt before, and it was the unseen that felt so scary at times, it was also one that as I took the necessary steps to heal from within, that my path became lighter and gave me a sense of freedom and peace I’d not experienced before in my life.
My journey with Gidget was one I have bowed in deep gratitude for often this past year. I have no doubt what she and I went through is what prepared me for this past year (thank you sweet girl. I love you so much!) While I’ve had my moments of struggle and fear like so many, I’ve also been reminded many times with a nudge in my heart from Gidget, that I have a choice to struggle or embrace peace.
So Monday morning when I saw an email from Dog Writers Association of America and the fact my book is named as a finalist in two categories, I soon saw the words I was reading a blur as tears filled my eyes. After sharing the news with John, I walked into the living room.
On what I call my ‘wall of love,’ with photos of all my dogs and of John and I, I took a moment to stroke the photo of Gidget, letting her know the special news. I thanked her once again for all she brought to me while alive and continues to in spirit.
The two categories my book is a finalist in are: Human/Animal Bond category and a special award category sponsored by Jen Reeder and Bryan Fryklund in honor of their beloved Labrador retriever mix, Rio – the Rio award is for an article, book, or essay that profiles a dog who changed someone’s life in a profoundly positive way.
No matter the outcome, I’m deeply honored to have been placed in these two categories as a finalist. Awards will be announced during a virtual ceremony on February 14, 2021. Any positive vibes you’d like to put out into the universe for Gidget and me and our book would be most welcome and appreciated!
All my best to all my fellow animal writer finalists. The way I see it is that we are all winners because of the love and joy we are honored to experience from our animal friends!
xo,
Barbara
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