Lucky's Journey (in pictures)

I am often fascinated to see what old blog posts of mine are being accessed. Today I noticed that this one popped up. Clearly, someone was digging deep in the archives to find this one, as it is from June of 2009. It is basically a high-level story of Lucky's life, told with pictures.

It was so fun for ME to read it again and I couldn't stop smiling as I looked at all the pictures. I thought I'd re-post it, as others may enjoy reading/seeing some of the highlights of Lucky's life when she was here. (and at least 1/2 of these little highlights didn't end up making it into the book so it made it even sweeter to see them all again)

I hope you enjoy it! If you do and you haven't read my book yet, maybe it will inspire you to buy my book and give it a read.  :-) 

Here is a link to the blog:

https://healinganimaltruths.blogspot.com/2009/06/luckys-journey.html

Here is a link to where you can purchase my book:

https://riversanctuarypublishing.com/shop/lucky-for-me/

Animals Can Teach Us About Kindness and Trust

I originally wrote portions of this blog in 2009 . . . The other day, I noticed that it was getting traction again so thought parts of it were worth a re-post. I feel even more strongly than ever that animals deserve so much respect for all they do to teach us while they are here.

Here is it - I hope you enjoy! 

If you read my blog regularly, you know how much I appreciate it when people are kind to one another and kind to animals. As a witness to so much of this kindness, I wanted to share a few of these stories in the hopes that you will be as touched as I have been.

My first story is about animals treating each other with kindness and how important it is to pay attention to what they are telling us. 

I went to one of my client's houses to give Reiki to her cat, Misha. (Yes, this is 2009 when I did all my work in person)  :-) Misha was older and had been dealing with some health issues, so she was getting periodic Reiki treatments to help her stay strong. When I arrived at their house, Misha was laying on the couch where she usually was for her Reiki treatments, and snuggled next to her on the couch was another of my client's cats, Sweet Pea. 

I said hello to them both and then prepared to start working on Misha, when all of the sudden Misha got up and walked to the other side of the couch and sat down. It seemed odd but I moved over to her new position and started to put my hands on her when again she got up and moved - this time back to where she had been sitting before. I was talking to their guardian while this was going on and wasn't paying close enough attention to what Misha was telling me. As I moved back over to where Misha was sitting, I tuned in and heard what she was telling me . . . she felt that Sweet Pea needed the treatment more than she did. 

After telling their guardian what I was picking up, I asked if it was OK with her if we added in some energy work with Sweet Pea on my visit that day. She told me she had wanted to talk to me about Sweet Pea anyway, as she hadn't seemed herself the last few days, so she was happy to have me offer her some energy and see what was going on with her. While I was working with Sweet Pea, Misha just sat there, contently watching us, pleased that I had listened to her and happy that her "sister" was getting the help she needed. 

I had the thought when I first got there . . . that there was a reason Sweet Pea was laying in the "Reiki spot" when I arrived, as it is something she had never done before when I came to work with Misha, but since my appointment was with Misha, I didn't pay enough attention to what I was sensing. Fortunately, Misha was determined to get me to "hear" what I needed to hear.

After about forty minutes of soaking up the energy, Sweet Pea got up from the couch and went into the other room. Immediately, Misha got up and laid down on the couch in front of me. She was telling me that now it was OK for me to give her Reiki. :-)

I was so touched by her kindness, the way she was looking out for her "sister" and making sure she got the help she needed. It was so selfless, so generous, so protective. I was in awe of her, even though I know I shouldn't have been surprised. Animals are so loving and so loyal. It's not something they have to learn, it's just who they are. 

Another beautiful example - also from 2009:  A few weeks ago, I came home to find a message on my machine that warmed my heart to the core. It was a message from an older gentleman I had met more than a year earlier telling me he wanted to give me a book he had read as a thank you for teaching him that he could talk to animals. He said there was a part in this book called “Wesley the Owl,” that made him think of me and what I had taught him. He really wanted me to have the book and I was touched on so many levels.

This man wasn’t a client or someone I had extensive interactions with. We just had one seemingly random conversation but that conversation had obviously impacted him greatly. It was so important to him that he make contact with me that he tracked me down through the vet office I used to work at and was able to get my contact information through them.

As I thought back, I could recall our conversation vividly. He was such a kind man. You could just feel the gentleness of his soul when you were standing next to him. I remember he had told me that there was a feral cat that had been living in his yard for some time. He had been putting out food and fresh water for her every day for ages and while she was obviously content to live there outside his house, she still wouldn’t let anyone come near her. He told me he had noticed in recent weeks that she was no longer eating and that she was losing a lot of weight. He was worried about her and he wanted to get her help but he didn’t know how he’d ever get her to the vet, given how afraid she was of humans.

I could see the sadness and the worry in his eyes. I could feel how much it hurt him to feel so helpless to come to her aid. I remember telling him that he could try talking to her, that he could explain why he was worried about her and ask if she would trust him to take her to a place where she could get some help to feel better. I remember he looked at me oddly, which didn’t surprise me because a lot of people look at me that way when I tell them they can talk to animals, but then he said, “Really?  I can talk to her and she’ll understand?”

I explained to him that while feral cats are slightly more difficult to communicate with, as they haven’t been exposed to as much vocabulary as an indoor cat, I believed that they can understand if we use more simple words. I also told him I believed animals can feel what is in our hearts, so if he focused on his desire to help her, she would feel that too.

Our paths never crossed again and hadn't thought about it over the next year. When I listened to his message, I could sense that his desire to give me the book was so genuine and sincere, I made a point to meet him at his house the next day to accept the book he was offering me. When I got there, I immediately felt the gentleness of his soul again and I was so glad he had found a way to get in contact with me. After a brief discussion about the book, he told me what happened after we had spoken that day.

He said he went home and talked to her, explaining what he wanted to do and why. Much to his delight, he discovered that she did hear him and understand him. And much to his surprise, she did allow him to pick her up and put her into the cat carrier so he could take her to the vet. He told me he never would have thought it was possible but clearly it was and he was so happy that he was able to bring her to see someone and not feel helpless to support her anymore.  He added that it was really important that he let me know he had learned something very important from me that day, that I had changed the way he thought about animals.

As we were standing in his front yard, I looked around and then said “Is she still here?” and he said, 

“No, that’s the sad part of the story, even though she trusted me to bring her to the vet, they weren’t able to make her well. I did everything they suggested but I could never get her to eat again.” 

He went on to tell me that several weeks later, as her condition grew worse and he knew she was in increased pain, he asked her if she'd like him to bring her back to the vet to help her get out of her body . . . and once again, she allowed him to put her in the carrier and take her to the vet one last time.

As my eyes welled up with tears, I told him how sorry I was. She had obviously meant a great deal to him and it made me so sad to think he lost her after all of that. But he had a different take on it entirely.  

He seemed genuinely touched that he had learned that animals could understand him when he spoke to them.  As I could feel his gratitude, another thought washed through me, and it was this . . . because he took a chance and talked to the cat, even though it didn’t result in a prolonged life, what it did do was give them both an opportunity to trust, which I believe was a gift to both of them. 

In her final weeks, she learned it was safe to trust someone and I know it meant a great deal to her, to feel the love and respect that he had for her. For him, this sweet older gentleman, I know it made him feel good to know he was able to help her, even if it was ultimately to help her make her transition. 

And for me, I was touched beyond words to know that a casual conversation I had with a stranger ended up giving both this cat and this loving man an opportunity to have the experience they had. It was a sweet reminder for me that I shouldn't be shy about sharing what I believe to be true about animals, even with strangers.

Sometimes You Just Need to Laugh

This is one of those things that is sad but it's actually pretty funny as well so everyone reading this has my full permission to just enjoy the laugh and not feel sorry for me.  :-) 

A couple nights ago I was having a tough time . . . Kino's legs were weaker than usual and I was trying to get a harness on him and get him outside to go potty before he had an accident in the house - but *I* was having trouble providing the support he needed. My lower back was really sore and weak which made it harder to hold him up. His back legs kept slipping and sliding out from under him, like he was doing the splits, which made it even more challenging to not trip over his legs. I was doing my best not to step on his feet / legs and not fall down myself but it was extra hard that night. 

Reaching a place of overwhelm, I began to cry . . . feeling in that moment like I didn't have it in me to keep doing this. As we were fumbling our way to the door, I grabbed what I thought was a kleenex from the table to stick up my nose. (FYI: I have taken to just sticking kleenex up my nose lately because I cry a lot - both good tears when something has really touched my heart and sad tears when I feel overwhelmed with what Kino and I are going through and I have been experiencing both of those reasons for tears with more intensity lately. Since constantly wiping my nose makes the skin chaffed and sore, it is easier sometimes to just stick a kleenex up my nose.)  LOL

Once I had secured the kleenex in place, we managed to make it the final stretch out the door and even though we were still slipping and sliding, I was doing my best to hold it together for both of our sakes, especially because we were going out the FRONT door. 

We can get to grass much quicker in the front yard, which provides more traction than concrete so he often opts for the front yard - thus having kleenex shoved up my nose was a bit of a "risk" but a risk I was willing to take because I was actively crying and generating a lot more snot and didn't have a free hand to be able to deal with all that. It was getting dark so I hoped no one would be walking past the house at that exact moment and see me looking like such a hot mess.

Once we were outside was when I noticed that the "kleenex" wasn't feeling too good. It was rough and scratchy and hurting the inside of my nose and I was also getting a strong scent . . . I couldn't put my finger on it because I was so focused on trying to keep Kino standing yet I knew it was a familiar scent. I was sure I didn't have any scented kleenex or toilet paper in the house so I was confused. With all that was going on I didn't have a free hand to pull the tissue back out of my nose, so I was forced to leave it there until I got him safely back inside. 

Well, as we were stumbling back into the house it hit me. I had accidentally shoved a used DRYER SHEET up my nose!!  Clearly it says a thing or two about the limit to my current house keeping skills if I have used kleenex AND used dryer sheets laying around - LOL - but it made me laugh so hard!  And it was just what I needed to shift my mood in that moment - from feeling overwhelmed to feeling amused. 

Every time I think about it, it makes me laugh all over again. Oh my goodness - if someone had seen me, we might have been photographed for some kind of social media group that shares pictures of "scary / crazy people around the neighborhood."  LOL  

Anyway, I hope it gives everyone who reads this a bit of a giggle too. Just know that if you have rough moments or rough hours or even rough days, you aren't alone and it's OK. A lot of us are going through these ups and downs - especially those of us who are really sensitive to energy. 

This post is meant to encourage you to hang in there and let yourself have a laugh when you can. Sure, it's more fun to laugh at something outside of us - like a funny TV show or video or a good comedian but these days I will take the "funny" in any way it is available. :-) 

ps: I shared this story with a good friend of mine and once she stopped laughing, she DID express curiosity about the used dryer sheets laying on tables, so here is a quick answer to that in case anyone else is wondering. 

Here by the beach, in an old rental house, everything has a bit of a mildew scent - which is NOT a pleasant way for your clothes and linens to smell. Therefore, I place used dryer sheets in drawers, closets, etc. all the time in an attempt to keep things smelling a little better. AND with Kino being in the condition he is in, I frequently drop everything I am doing in order to help him (i.e. if he falls down or gets himself stuck somewhere). 

Therefore, I am only successful at getting from the laundry area to some mildew smelling location in the house about 50% of the time. The other 50%, I drop the used dryer sheet on the closest surface because my priority in that moment has shifted to Kino. Between that and the frequent tears . . . you can hopefully understand why there might be kleenex AND used dryer sheets laying about the house.  LOL

Our Animals Can Help Us See Ourselves

Over the years, I have seen example after example of where our animals can be a "mirror" for us. Often times when we understand what they need, we discover it is the same thing we need. Or when we identify something they need to work on, we find that it is something we need to work on as well. I don't think it's any accident that this occurs . . . as I believe it is part of their purpose here on earth, to help us learn about ourselves and help us grow. 

I get so tickled when I am able to witness these occurrences of "mirroring" - to see the eyes of a guardian light up when they realized how much they have in common with their animal or how deeply they are deeply touched when they learn more about what their animal is trying to teach them.

I vividly recall the opportunity I had to work with three wonderful women and their four horses many years ago. There were a mixture of physical and behavioral issues that had these women stumped and they were looking for insights into what was going on. 

When one of the gals asked me why her horse would occasionally stop and refuse to move anymore when they were out for a trail ride, her horse showed me through her feelings and some images that she needed to know the "big picture" before they went out for a ride. She wanted to know where they were going to go, how long they would be gone and when she was going to get to eat again. :-) 

As I was explaining in more detail about the horses' desire to have her expectations managed, her guardian shook her head and began to laugh. She said, "Oh my gosh, she's just like me!" It hadn't occurred to her that her horse needed the same thing she did but now that she knew, she was more than happy to start offering up more of an explanation before they left the barn. She knew how much it helped her to understand the "big picture" before engaging in something so it was easy for her to provide that to her horse.

One of the other horses was being pushed around by some of the other horses at the stable when they were out in the pasture. I sensed some confusion in him, given that he was always complimented by all the 2-legged folks for being such a sweet, gentle horse and he didn't know how to still be sweet and gentle while standing up for himself with the other horses. I talked to him about how it was OK for him to be confident, that he would still be the same sweet horse he's always been, even if he stood up for himself a bit more. I told him it was safe to be both sweet and confident.

At the time I was talking to him, I sensed it was potentially an issue for his guardian as well, but I didn't say anything at the time. I had just met her and wasn't sure how comfortable she would be if I began pointing out what my intuition was telling me about her. :-) 

Much to my delight, a while later when we were working with one of the other horses, the guardian brought it up herself, mentioning that she saw the connection when we were talking to her horse. She said she often was afraid to speak up for herself for fear that people wouldn't like her anymore. I suggested that maybe it had come up that day so that they could both work on it and help each other make progress on this area. The other ladies who were there with us were kind enough to chime in and let her know that she could speak up for herself around them and it wouldn't change how much they liked her. I could tell by the smile on her face, especially in her eyes, that it really struck a positive chord with her. 

The week before that, one of my dog clients was having difficulty recovering from an injury. I told his guardian that I sensed he wasn't healing because he wasn't resting enough. He seemed to always feel like he had to be "on" - always doing something, and since he never stopped moving, his muscles weren't getting a chance to heal. 

As I was explaining all of this, she looked down at the ground, then slowly lifted her eyes to meet mine and quietly said, "He isn't the only one who has this problem." She confessed that she had trouble being still herself, that she never seemed to stop moving either. I suggested that maybe it was something they could work on together. They could take some time out each day where they both rested and were just still. I sensed that it was something she would be more apt to do if it was also going to help her dog. 

I think our animals are offering us insights about ourselves all the time and there is so much we can learn if we look at ourselves as closely and lovingly as we look at our animals. All of my clients genuinely want to help their animals and go to great lengths to ensure they are happy and living a balanced life. I think their animals genuinely want to help their guardians too and will go to great lengths to ensure they too are happy and living a balanced life. 

Sometimes our animals will help give us the courage to do something for ourselves when we see how doing that same thing has helped them. 

Our animals are able to give us great insight into ourselves if we are willing to slow down, get quiet and pay attention to the subtle messages they are offering. 

So what do you think your animal is trying to tell you about yourself? You might be amazed at what you learn.

We All Have A Role To Play

People often talk about their purpose in life . . . as they ponder topics such as "Why am I here?" and "What am I meant to do?"  

I believe that the answer to that may reside in seeing ourselves clearly enough to know what WE have to offer, what our unique abilities and talents are. We each have innate skills and abilities and I personally think there is a reason for that - they are the roadmap to finding and fulfilling our purpose.

I have come to realize - over and over - how important each one of us is. No one person is better than another because we each bring something of value to the whole. I think the key to our forward momentum can be found in embracing ourselves and what comes naturally to us. It can truly be empowering when we are able to embrace what we are good at.

There is evidence all around us that when we bring our contributions and our gifts to the table, together we are able to accomplish incredible things. 

One of my favorite analogies for this is of building a house . . . I often think of the importance of the different roles that come into play and how necessary each one is. We can't build a great house if we only have architects, nor can we build a great house if we only have plumbers . . . there are so many different skills needed to build a wonderful house. 

We need architects and building designers, project managers, people who know how to navigate the often complicated process of getting permits and inspections. We need plumbers, electricians, dry wallers, people who can lay tile and flooring, etc. Interior designers and exterior designers are also needed, as they will know how to bring it all together whether it is what colors to paint walls or what materials are needed to create spaces that bring comfort and joy to those who live there.

Not all of us have or need to have the skills to be able to do all those jobs. 

For just about everything - a variety of skills are needed to bring something to completion and not just "completion" but synergistic and beautiful completion. Together we can accomplish more. No one role is more important than another. They are all valuable! We are all valuable! 

Putting on a play . . . you need someone to write the play, you need people who are great at acting to bring those words to life and a director to bring it all together. You also need great set designers, people who can make the perfect costumes, people who know how to light the stage just right. Each one of those roles fulfilled brings a play to life.  There are countless examples of where we need a "team" to accomplish something and so often our "purpose in life" isn't just about what we are meant to do by ourselves but how our individual contributions provide the needed puzzle piece in a larger picture.

Always remember that no one individual is more important in what they do. We each bring forth something important and we are ALL equally needed - because each one of us came into this world with unique gifts, abilities and talents. 

So I invite you to take a moment and think about what you are good at, what lights you up and inspires you? What gifts do you innately have? When do you feel the most freedom and the most joy? With our understanding of those things, we are more easily able to answer the question "What is my purpose?" 

I also believe that the more clear we are about what we individually have to offer, the quicker the Universe can bring forth opportunities to connect with just the right people who are in need of exactly what we have to offer. We can contribute positively to a greater vision just by knowing and seeing ourselves for who we are and embracing our natural gifts, talents and joys. 

p.s. I think that for many of us, what our purpose is as we go forward may end up being very different from what we were doing before . . . so the other thought I will leave you with is this: Stay open to the possibilities. If we keep tuning into what lights us up, we may be given magical new pathways and opportunities to enjoy our lives even more.

Black and White

 

I have been hearing this song playing in my head all day today. It has been a favorite of mine since I was a little girl (I have always connected deeply with music and this is one of those songs that moved me to tears, even when I was only in elementary school).

Since it won't stop playing in my head, I am taking it as a sign that it needs to be shared so here are the lyrics to the Three Dog Night singing "Black & White" followed by a video below that. 

I hope it speaks to you as much as much as it speaks to me. I don't believe we were ever meant to be separate - not based on skin color or anything else. IMHO, I believe we are here to love one another no matter what our "differences" are.

                                               "Black & White"

The ink is black, the page is white
Together we learn to read and write
A child is black, a child is white
The whole world looks upon the sight
A beautiful sight

And now a child can understand
That this is the law of all the land
All the land

The world is black, the world is white
It turns by day and then by night
A child is black, a child is white
Together they grow to see the light
To see the light

And now, at last, we plainly see
We'll have a dance of liberty
Liberty

The world is black, the world is white
It turns by day and then by night
A child is black, a child is white
The whole world looks upon the sight
A beautiful sight

The world is black, the world is white
It turns by day and then by night
A child is black, a child is white
Together they grow to see the light
To see the light

The world is black, the world is white
It turns by day and then by night
A child is black, a child is white
The whole world looks upon the sight
A beautiful sight

The world is black, the world is white
It turns by day and then by night
A child is black, a child is white
Together they grow to see the light
To see the light

Black & White video

Another "Lucky For Me" Review

I recently received another review of my book that touched me so deeply it made me cry. As I read her words about how the book had supported her, I felt such gratitude because it was one of the ways I had hoped it could assist people. 

In the prologue of my book, I mention that part of the reason that I felt so compelled to share our story was because I felt deep inside my heart that it would be of assistance to others. 

I wrote: I know I am not the only person who has had an intense bond with their animal, nor am I the only one who has gone to extremes to help an animal recover from the abuse they suffered or heal their own trauma. My intention in sharing our journey is to light the path for those who find themselves with similar challenges. Whether you are someone who is extremely sensitive and feels things very deeply or you are trying to heal the past or you are in the process of self-discovery, my hope is that you'll experience some "aha" moments and points of connection through this book that can assist you on your own journey, and maybe even inspire you to find your way to a deeper understanding and appreciation of all you have to offer too. 

Receiving this heart-felt confirmation from this beautiful soul lit me up. She confirmed for me why it felt so important to write the book and share the journey that Lucky and I went on. Here is what she wrote:

Wow! All I can say is wow! I finished Lucky For Me (by Maureen Burkley) on the plane a few weeks ago.

The most PERFECT ALIGNMENT OF TIMING is indescribable. I don't remember when I got the book and started reading it, I’m a slow reader lately and I read in small chunks and then I pick it up again, but I feel like each time I picked it up, that each part I read served me so perfectly during that particular time.

Since we never had a dog, I have learned so much about dogs from this book. But the most interesting part, the book also made me think a lot about life…

As I got to the end, reading about Lucky's last year, last few months, down to last hours AND after her transitioning ... I can't even describe how meaningful it was for me - for my now and things I felt for Maureen and Lucky and for MYSELF at the same time, all interwoven together.

With each part of the book I read, it was like being there and being here and having a NEW understanding for the criss-cross points. I was able to begin to feel what Maureen felt AND see how those things connect to things unfolding in my own life right now.

I was able to understand Maureen’s decisions points, where they come from, and marvel at their relationship, at the end, not only had Lucky taught her and us so much, but ....compassion.... wow, compassion!! The place where compassion comes from!! Our wisdom. Our intuition. And the light and joy and peace that come with it.

I feel so much reverence for Maureen and Lucky. I thank her and Lucky both for how I was able to take what I was reading and connect it to my own life, my own journey in such a powerful way. Lucky is still teaching!!! Your pets are still teachers even after they are gone.

Zhanna Kozar