joyful paws

How Easy it is to Sing

Posted by Barbara Techel

 

Today as I ran out to my car to warm it up before running my errands I heard the birds singing away.  I thought to myself, “Didnt’ someone tell those birds it’s frigid outside today?”  It was below zero and a windchill to boot.

But then I stopped and thought, “Oh, how lovely, the birds ARE singing.”

How easy we can get into a funk on a bone chilling day. But the sun was shining and the birds were singing. That put warmth right into my heart and set the tone for my day. I found myself humming as I walked down the aisles of the grocery store.  I, myself, a bird, making the choice to sing no matter what.

“People are about as happy as they make their minds to be.”  ~Abraham Lincoln

Being Open and Trusting

Posted by Barbara Techel


I’m close to finishing the 2nd draft of my new book, Through Frankie’s Eyes: Lessons Learned from a Dachshund on Wheels. I’ve promised to have it to my editor no later than next Friday. This is my first adult nonfiction book. Writing it has been great therapy for me in some areas, as well as revisiting my journey and realizing how far I have come. I hope by sharing my process in being open and trusting and lessons I’ve learned from Frankie will help others once I publish my book.

I’ve felt a transition happening not only with myself, but with Frankie as well, for a good year. I’ve tried to resist the fact that I feel that Frankie wants to slow down a bit in her work. Because she has been my main focus for over four years with the children’s books I wrote about her, and the school presentations I do with her, and our therapy dog team work- This place of acceptance was a hard place for me to come to. My biggest fear has been wondering what my next path is…. as well as accepting she is aging.

I love my life and work with Frankie- she has brought huge, huge blessings to me . Too numerous to mention right now. But one of the recent lessons is learning to let go, be open, and trust a new path would emerge. I had to remind myself to not think so hard about it. Let it come naturally and authentically.

I had some sleepless nights worrying about “what’s next” and how do I transition? Change is a scary place to be sometimes. But it seems I have crossed that hump. One thing has led to another and I find myself taking my first Reiki class this Saturday with hopes of becoming a Reiki Master by year end with a focus on animals. I knew I wanted to continue working with animals, but just couldn’t find a picture in my head of what that looked like.

Reiki feels right to me and I’m excited to be on this new energy healing journey. It has led me to considering revamping my website with more focus on my brand, Joyful Paws, and myself as an author and all I want to evolve to in new areas of work with animals. I’ve been talking with my web mistress and hope to revamp my website in the next couple of months.

When I began my journey with Frankie after her paralysis, writing her books, and sharing her story with as many as I could, I remember having little confidence. My confidence steadily grew the more I got out there. Starting out, in theory, I felt myself standing behind her as my confidence grew. Then I found myself standing beside her as I grew more into me. Now I realize I must stand in front of her, on my own, as I move forward. This has been, for me, the hardest last step. Not because I don’t feel confident, because I do more than ever. But realizing there will be a day that Frankie moves on. But I’ve also come to really believe in my heart that when that day comes, her physical being will move on, but her soul will always be with me. There is a bond between us that will never be broken.

So being open and trusting now has me very excited about 2012 and my new adventures, plus a bigger vision of where I want to go (though will save those thoughts for another time- one day at a time here).

As I work in my writing studio today, I looked over to Frankie resting comfortably and she makes me smile. What a life of wonder, hope and joy that little dog has given me. We will continue to do our work on a more limited basis, and for as long as I feel she is comfortable, but I can finally say I find great peace and comfort in watching her nap and enjoy her senior years… and knowing everything is going to be just fine.

“Often in the stillness of the night when all nature seems asleep about me there comes a gentle rapping at the door of my heart. I open it and a voice inquires, “Pokagon, what of your people? What Will their future be?” My answer is: “Mortal man has not the power to draw aside the veil of unborn time to tell the futrue of his race. That gift belongs of the Divine alone. But it is given to him to closely judge the future by the present, and the past.” ~Simon Pokagon, from 365 Day of Walking the Red Road by Terri Jean

 

Trust and Learning How to Fly

Posted by Barbara Techel

 

This past holiday season I experienced a family conflict that was quite uncomfortable to deal with. At the beginning of the ordeal I wanted to run and hide because it was so painful– but knew I had to stand strong in my thoughts I had finally decided to share.

For much of my life if I feel someone will disagree with me or not understand my thoughts, I choose not to share them. Mostly in fear of someone being mad at me and then not talking to me for months or perhaps years. I had seen this pattern in my family before, so this was how I chose to not have this happen to me- by always going along with the majority. But one thing led to another and I finally shared my feelings. It was hard to do, and I know it was hard for some of my family to hear.

I’m happy to say I was able to talk with most of my family members and we were able to come to somewhat of an understanding. We may not all agree with each other, but I feel there is a new respect that formed.

There was one family member I had not yet heard back from after a few attempts of reaching out. I finally heard back today and that family member does not wish to talk with me at this time. It sent me back into a dark place in my soul, and again, I found myself feeling so uncomfortable. I didn’t expect this. And as I thought about the word, I decided I no longer like that word, expect. How often do we put expectations on others and then we are disappointed? This was a big part of our conflict.

So here I was again feeling down in the dumps because I expected we would all come to a place of respect. I’m very grateful that for most of my family we have. But the lone one who is not not ready yet, I felt like running and hiding again and found myself questioning having had shared my thoughts. But as I looked up from my desk, I saw my dragonfly hanging from my bookshelf. It reminded me that we are all works in progress and we are always learning how to fly… and to trust that in time, the one lone family member and I will come to a place of understanding.

And after all the conflict, I do know one thing too, my wings have become stronger in living the life that I chose and this conflict though tough in the beginning has helped me even more into being me. I can’t live for anyone else, but myself– to do so only means I’m not living to my full potential and what is right for me.

So I shall be the dragonfly and continue to fly and expand in ways that bring me joy, wishing the same for those that I love too.  Imagine if everyone one in the world chose to be a dragonfly and felt free to fly and be who they are… I imagine it would be a world of peace, don’t you?