The Days Before Our Final Farewell

It's the birthday of the man who wrote the famous words "Tis better to have loved and lost / Than never to have loved at all" and also "Theirs not to reason why, / Theirs but to do and die." That's poet Alfred, Lord Tennyson, (books by this author) born on this day in Lincolnshire, England (1809).

Yes, it's better to have loved and lost but then you live

with heart break forever after

the object of your affection leaves you.  Love has a price.

Stunning, even days before her final farewell.

Suzy and me.  Together forever.

Seems Like Only Yesterday

Suzy was my life, and I, hers.

Inseparable for nearly 14 years

Seems like only yesterday

We strolled the streets,

Cuddled on the couch,

Shared everything possible--and then some.

Traveled the world and felt safe.

Never lonely,

Such good company,

Always present,

Happy.

Healthy,

Sane.

'Twas less than a year ago,

Her clock was running out,

And every tick that passed

Took life from me, too.

Yet, time knows no bounds

On love everlasting.

A Year Ago Today

Suzy looked great even though she was dying and had less than a month to live.  I tried, in vain, taking her to an accupuncturist, a masseuse, various vets, and administering lots of other home remedies.  It was her time to go.  Not mine, I mean I was definitely not ready to let her go.  Not ready to say goodbye to my dearest companion, my closest friend.  The freshest face, loyalist pal and kindest heart I have ever known.   My darling.  My Suzy.

Through Love

Through love bitter things seem sweet.

Through love scraps of copper are turned to gold.

Through love dregs taste like clear wine.

Through love agonies are healing balms.

Through love thorns become roses.

Through love vinegar becomes rich wine.

Through love the scaffold becomes a throne.

Through love disaster becomes good fortune.

Through love a prison becomes a rose garden.

Through love burning fire is a fragrant light.

Through love the devil becomes an angel.

Through love stones become soft as butter.

Through love grief is like delight.

Through love demons become servants of God.

Through love stings are like honey.

Through love lions are harmless as mice.

Through love sickness is health.

Through love the dead are resurrected.

Through love the emperor becomes a slave.

- Jalal-ud-Din Rumi

The Long Goodbye

A year ago, today, my beloved was dying.  Day-by-heartbreaking-day, I witnessed Suzy growing thinner and less capable of walking.  I wrapped a saddle sling around her loins and lifted her in-and-out of the house, at least three times a day, to go potty, get some fresh air, relieve the stagnant breath of stale air that encircled us like a halo of death.

An excruciating time.  I clung to her for dear life, praying, against all odds, that she would bounce back.  From what?  Old age and death?  No one has, and no one ever will.  Still, I prayed.  And hoped.  And cried. And bargained with God that I'd do anything if He'd let my darling live.  I needed her so much!  I couldn't bear to let her go!

Our last month together.  She looked so beautiful right up until the very end.  A stunning dog, a stellar friend, loyal and loving 'til the end.

And beyond. . . .

Relating to Others

"In every message of human significance, the person invests his or her true self, and is affected by the way in which the communication is received. The impact of someone's failure to listen, to receive, understand, and accept may be slight or immense depending on how much personal meaning and value has gone into creating the communication. When the entire self of a person registers in his or her message, the absence of response has painful, numbing consequences. Learning to listen and to hear, learning to respond

to others in a way that respects and encourages them, are

essential experiences in the growth of a relationship".

Clark Moustakas

One of the greatest parts of loving and being with my pets is that they will always respond as outlined above.  Whenever I'm with any of my kits or pup, I am my true self and they appreciate and receive me respectfully & with love; as I wish it was with anyone and everyone I encounter.

And, why not?  Buddhist monk, Thich Nhat Hanh, always says, "Hold another gently, as a Mother would hold her baby."  Meaning, give the other person your complete attention.  Be mindful when speaking, engaging with another.

As the above-quote reminds us, "learning to respond to others in a way that respects and encourages them, are essential experiences in the growth of a relationship."

This is true with therapist and client; sister-to-sister, friend-to-friend.  If one cannot connect & communicate with true mindfulness and connection, then perhaps it is better not to connect at all?  For, the one who is giving of their true self will go away feeling hurt and empty.  The one who is shallow and impatient shall also lose precious time and opportunities to connect with depth and meaning.  It will be fruitless.

The above quote is wonderful and should be taken to heart.  Heart-to-heart-to-heart.  Not just between favorite people, sons, daughters, or pets.  But to all people one comes in touch with and, especially, those who reach out and extend their true selves to another with truth, dignity and friendship.

It is a Precious Gift. 

Today's Daily OM

This Daily OM really spoke to me, so I offer it as today's blog:

We come into this world with our own inner wisdom, it knows where we are going and understands where we come from.

Throughout our lives, we will encounter individuals who presume to know what is best for us. The insights they offer cannot compare, however, with the powers of awareness and discernment that already exist within us. From birth we are blessed with wisdom that cannot be learned or unlearned. It exists whether or not we acknowledge it because it is a gift given to us by a loving universe before we chose to experience existence on the earthly plane. Yet for all its permanence, it is vital that we value and honor this incredible element of the self. It is when we do not use our inborn wisdom that we begin to doubt our personal truths and are driven to outside sources of information because we are afraid. What we know to be true in our hearts is invariably true, and we discover how intensely beautiful and useful self-trust can be when we recognize the power of our wisdom.

Inner wisdom is not subject to the influences of the outside world, which means that it will never demand that we surrender our free will or counsel us to act in opposition to our values. We benefit from this inspiration when we open ourselves to it, letting go of the false notion that we are less qualified than others to determine our fate. The wisdom inside of us is the source of our discernment and our ability to identify blessings in disguise. When we are unsure of who to trust, how to respond, or what we require, the answers lie in our inner wisdom. It knows where we are going and understands where we are coming from, taking this into account though it is not a product of experience but rather a piece of our connection to the universal mind.

In the whole of your existence, no force you will ever encounter will contribute as much to your ability to do what you need to do and be who you want to be as your natural wisdom. Through it, you reveal your growing consciousness to the greater source and discover the true extent of your strength. If you heed this wisdom with conviction and confidence, the patterns, people, and fears that held you back will be dismantled, paving the way for you to fulfill your truest potential.