Neighbor News
How My Dog Taught Me To Face Change With Ease
Sadie's final promotion from VP of Relaxation at Bridgenosis (Spirit Guide Dog) to Spirit Guide taught me a lot about how to embrace change,
With summer on it’s way out and fall arriving, we are reminded, “Nothing lasts forever. Change is inevitable.” Bittersweet. When times are tough, this truth reassures and comforts us, “This too will pass.” Yet, when times are wonderful and you never want the circumstances to change, this truth tugs sadly at the heart.
And, of course, most of the time, we have a little bit of both going on with our present circumstances. It feels like we have to choose between wishing away the negative or challenging stuff and appreciating what you have that you want to enjoy as long as you can.
Knowing that something won’t last forever can really keep you on your toes being present and appreciating the moment, unless it is laced with dread. In that case, the underlying fear of abandonment and the end can keep you from truly feeling all the joy that the moment can offer. Ironically, you miss the moment before it’s even gone.
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This sums up the attachment mindset I’ve struggled with as dog lover and owner for the last 13 years, and I’m sure it has trickled into my professional/personal life in other ways. Serendipitously, I recently wrote about how our cultural fear of abandonment plays out in business and sales. Yet, it’s only through letting go of Sadie, my soul-dog, also known by our clients as VP and Director of Relaxation at Bridgenosis, this summer, that I have started to embrace a more simplified mindset that feels more peaceful in my heart. A peace that soothes the heartache and grief that still comes in small waves.
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Photo: Sadie is light! Her last morning with us. “You better do it. Don’t be fooled by my beauty.” Her coat was shiney, soft, and beautitful, but inside her body was deteriorating.
Warning: As you can tell, this is even more personal than normal. Since my posts have been laced with lessons learned from Sadie, I thought it only fitting to honor her transition with a post on what she taught me in her passing. Perhaps these are universal lessons of the heart and mind that may be applied to your business and life as well and whether you like animals or not. Sadie didn’t discriminate in her teachings.
For the last 18 months of her life, I felt a strong tug in the heart center. CLICK TO KEEP READING
