Things My Blind Dog Taught Me
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Hi Friends,
I had planned something else for this newsletter, but life took a a
turn as it often does, and I find myself switching gears.
LOVE is an integral part of curating a Splendid Life. Inviting LOVE in,
nurturing it, protecting it.
One of the great loves we get to experience in life on earth, if we're
lucky is that of our loving, loyal pets. I say pets so you'll know I'm
speaking of animals, but I have never really liked the word pet. It
seems too impersonal, and much too small of a word for the enormous
place these precious beings hold in our lives and hearts for an entire
lifetime, both while they are here, and often even more so after they
leave. I prefer to say sweet angel or furry soulmate.
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Last Friday, we said goodbye to our precious Babsy. She had just turned
11 on October 14th.
She had been the healthiest of all the dogs we have owned and we
expected her to live to 14 or 15. Her Mommy, Blossom passed just over a
year ago. (they weren't biological mommy and baby, but took on those
roles the minute we brought Babsy home.)
They were inseparable, with a very unique relationship. We had a family
of 5 furry babies who were all extremely close, but there were sweet
behaviors and rituals, that the two of them only exhibited with each
other. Babsy grieved terribly when Blossom died just over a year ago,
and about a month later had some kind of seizure and went blind.
Complete retinal detachment in both eyes. What we discovered is that
she had suddenly developed extremely high blood pressure (I truly
believe from the trauma of losing Blossom) and that is what caused the
seizure and the retinal detachment. She then developed kidney disease.
She had been blind just over a year when she passed.
(actually, we lost our Blossom and our Bella one month apart last year.
She loved Bella too)
Though my heart is broken, this post is not meant to be sad. I want to
honor Babsy and share some of the things she taught me in the way she
embraced life without vision. Every move she made reminded me that just
because we can't see something with our eyes, doesn't mean it doesn't
exist. She exhibited great faith in so many ways, and also trusted her
instincts.
She would chase a tennis ball all over the yard. I usually put it near
her, but if I threw it far away, she'd comb the entire yard with her
nose to the ground. She couldn't see it, but she knew it was there, and
wouldn't give up until she found it. (I of course would sometimes
eventually have to relocate it if she wasn't having success, because I
knew she would NOT come into the house until she'd found it.
She never stopped enjoying the simple pleasures in life. She had always
loved to lay in the sun. She and Blossom always laid side by side in
the sun, and after Blossom left and Poppy Jane came, she and Poppy Jane
would lay side by side in the sun. If Poppy was elsewhere and she
wanted to be in the sun, she'd just head out the doggie door and go
straight to one of her special places and raise her face to the sky.
When was the last time you sat outside for a few minutes and raised
your face to the sun? I rarely do, but now I'm determined to do it more.
Without her sight, Baby was forced to rely on her other senses. I know
she loved the texture of the grass under her paws as much as she loved
the sun on her face. Watching her reminded me that there is peace and
joy to be found in the seemingly mundane. Do you walk barefoot in the
grass, feeling the silkiness of the grass and the energy of the earth?
I rarely walk barefoot in the grass, but I will make a point to now.
Her sense of smell heightened and her taste changed. She had NEVER been
one to get into my coffee, but after she went blind, if I dared to get
up from our special chair, she was up on the side table drinking my
coffee in a split second.
I LOVE coffee, but life takes off so fast in the morning that I RARELY
even finish a cup and what little bit I end up drinking is usually cold
with the exception of those first few sips. I take the time to prepare
the perfect cappuccino or latte, froth the milk to the perfect
temperature and texture, (it's a ritual) yet don't take the time to
enjoy it. BABSY enjoyed it though:):)
I'm going to take the time to drink my entire HOT cup of coffee while
sitting with Boomer and Poppy Jane.
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We've lost four furry angels now, Baxter, Bella, Blossom and Babsy.
Three of them in the past 15 months. I guess that was inevitable, as
they were close in age. Life is so short, and our time with them is
even shorter. We MUST remember that in our busy hectic days.
Within a few weeks of losing her sight, she was navigating the stairs
to our second story. She would rub her chin from side to side along
every next step before stepping up until she reached the top. I'd run
upstairs for something, telling her I'd be right back, and by the time
I was making my way back, she was already there, or just reaching the
top of the stairs. She was great at it until her last few weeks. She
still climbed, but we would stay close enough to put a hand on her and
reassure her we were there. I thought she was so BRAVE. I would never
go up or especially down the stairs with my eyes closed. That is NOT
one I will be trying!:)
She had always been very loving, but grew to love touch even more;
always pressed tightly against me in the bed or our big leather chair,
or sitting against my leg in the kitchen.
Touch feels different when your eyes are closed.
Close your eyes, and gently run your fingernails up the inside of your
arm from wrist to upper arm. It feels divine. I often do this to reset
my nervous system when I'm feeling anxious or really stressed. It
doesn't have the same effect with eyes open.
I want to honor her by slowing down a little. It's really hard for me
to go slow. I even think fast:):):) I want to be better at enjoying the
moment of "here" before I'm suddenly "there".
I'll be more appreciative of yummy smells, have slow coffee, touch
those I love more, take a nap once in awhile, walk barefoot in the
grass, raise my face to the warmth of the sun, AND, I will trust my
intuition more. I will be brave and step out in faith more, trusting
that the next step will be there.
I'll endeavor to do all of this with her CHILL demeanor, which means
I'll have to remember to breathe a little deeper.
When we're stressed, and running on adrenaline we breathe shallow, and
our bodies don't get enough oxygen. Then we wonder why we are tired and
have brain fog!:):):) Sometimes we need more sleep, but sometimes, we
just need to breathe better.
Animals really are our greatest teachers. They live in the moment, LOVE
unconditionally, and quickly forget anything unpleasant.
Take time once in a while to just observe your furry friend if you have
one, because we all need these reminders.
I can't imagine my life without dogs. I LOVE YOU BABSY, with all of my
heart, and I love each and every one of you that is reading this.
LOVE really is the most important thing, don't you think? Love for our
creator, our animals, humanity, and YES, LOVE FOR OURSELVES.
With LOVE comes grace, forgiveness, compassion and understanding. It's
impossible to curate a Splendid Life without LOVE.
Until Next Time,
Kimberly
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