meaningful life

Saying Goodbye to Joyful Paws “Blog”

Posted by Barbara Techel

IMG_2186

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…

The Sweet Spot Moments of Life

Posted by Barbara Techel

snuggly g 3e

It has been a challenging year for John and I – many good things this past year, but also some tough times, too. Ah, the ebb and flow of life.

Last night John and I chilled out in the living room after spending the afternoon with his side of the family celebrating Thanksgiving, plus a milestone birthday for his mom and the announcement that one of his sister’s is getting married.

John was watching the Packer game and I was snuggled on the sofa, my nose deep in a book. Gidget was burrowed under her blanket beside me, the woodstove stoked keeping us warm.

With much on our mind lately, John and I treasure our times together whether we are deep in conversation or just simply being together. Being together for 36 years now, recently celebrating 30 of those years as married, we have grown together in a way that I am very proud of.

As I was reading, and I thought John was watching the game, all of a sudden I heard him say very sweetly, “I have a very beautiful wife.”

I looked up from my book to see him looking at me– that look of pure love.

My heart melted into a thousand pieces. It felt so good to hear him say that. Not that it was about how I actually look in terms of looks, but it was how he said it. And how it felt deep in my soul. That he loves every part of me.

“Thank you for saying that, honey,” I said, and smiled. Those sweet spots in time that you want to hold onto forever and never let go.

But always there, tucked inside your memory for a rainy day when life does not seem so sweet and to know that those moments of sweetness is what makes everything all worth it.

Please feel free to leave a comment…

A Gift to Yourself and to Others Called “Holding the Space.”

Posted by Barbara Techel

john and gidg

I hope you had a blessed Thanksgiving. John and I spent a quiet day at home, just the two of us, which has been typical for quite a few years. We napped, played Monopoly, which I am happy (and bragging!) to say that I won.

The reason I am bragging is because I have never won a Monopoly game against John, so I was pretty excited. We also enjoyed our woodstove and as you can see in the photo, John had a special little helper to keep it stoked.

Today I want to share something I recently learned  that I thought you might find helpful and of interest.

Recently at my SoulCollage(R) Facilitator training, Audrey, our trainer told us about something called “Holding the Space.”

This is a way in which to be present for someone who is going through something difficult – oftentimes when there really aren’t words needed to fill the space, but just that someone needs a container in which to be heard.

I also think this can be quite valuable when we find ourselves in a situation that can tend to suck all our positive energy from us.

Holding the space for yourself can keep you centered and put up a protecting energetic field around you so that negative situations don’t leave you feeling so drained.

I’ve shared this with a few people lately and they said that it has helped them as they were going through some tough times.

And then I also had an “aha!” moment just the other day as I thought more about this concept.

Dogs seem to just do this naturally!  They seem to always be holding the space for we mere human beings.

It’s why I love being around them so much. When I want to talk, they hold the space. When I want to be silent, they hold the space. When I want to cry, they hold the space.

What a gift this is!  A gift we can learn to give others, as well as, to ourselves.

Please feel free to leave a comment…