I Have A Secret To Tell You

Forest Gump Says “Life is Like a Box of Chocolates”

But I think it’s more like a giant pendulum; swinging back and forth between joy and sadness, gain and loss, youth and maturity. Nature accepts this constant state of impermanence effortlessly moving through the seasons from green to brown and back to green again. Animals mourn the loss of a family member but then move on. Yet for humans change can be difficult; as the last few months have proven for me.

When my husband Ken recently retired from forty-one years in the film industry it sparked the conversation, “What are we going to do with the rest of our lives?” His feeling was we live in an expensive area that just continues to grow more unaffordable and unless we are determined to work more and work harder we might consider moving somewhere else where we can work less and live more. How about Grass Valley? Nevada City? Santa Fe? What????? Maybe that sounds good on paper but the idea that I would have to leave behind a home I love, friends I cherish, and my long-time business…well, I can tell you the sparks exploded. I was 100% resistant to the idea, angry at him for even bringing it up, and it created tension between us for a very long time.

When It Rains, It Pours

Apparently, the Universe needed to raise the ante and teach me more about impermanence because our dogs, Rudy (14) & Dakota (16) both soon became ill with neurological disorders. Every day I see them lose a little more function, grow a tad wearier, and take a step towards the unknown and away from me. If like me, you’ve been fortunate enough to have animal companions in your life who you treasure, this period of time when the loss is on the horizon, feels unimaginable, unbearable, and there is nothing you can do but wait.

As the timeline draws nearer for our move; we still don’t know where we are going, how my work will change in a new town, and whether our dogs will even be here to make the journey with us. Some days with so many balls juggling in the air, my brain feels weary. Although Ken and I are now on the same page, and this hiccup in the road has actually strengthened our marriage, I still get short with him – more than I’d like. So I turn to my many practices to help settle my mind and ease my heart. I meditate, do Tai Chi, immerse myself in yoga, journal, and ultimately I turn to some of my greatest teachers – my animal friends for examples on how to live through challenging times.

Rudy and Dakota are having their physical challenges but they don’t struggle like I do. Their bodies are giving way to age, pain, and time yet they enjoy their walks outdoors, love to cuddle with their mom, and groan in delight as their old bodies get their daily massage. When I get out of my own mind and become present to the moment at hand, I feel their inspiration to take life one step at a time, to search for the green instead of the grey, and to strive for the pawsitive instead of giving way to the nego.

My Secret

In my private practice, one of the most powerful things I teach my clients is the importance of engaging in a morning ritual. A daily positive morning routine is for the mind and soul what a healthy breakfast is for the body. Practiced regularly, the morning ritual can transform your life.

One morning as I watched Rudy wondering how many more days I would have to watch him lick his beautiful chocolate colored paws or gaze at me with his soulful brown eyes, I realized I was wasting time mourning him instead of celebrating him. And what better way to do this than to create something that could help others because of him.

So let me share my secret with you. For the last few months, I have been working on a follow-up book to my first book  “Dog as My Doctor, Cat as My Nurse.” This new book is entitled, “Paws for The Good Stuff : a dog lover’s journal for creating a happier & more pawsitive life.”

I created “Paws for The Good Stuff ” because quite simply, I want to discover, nurture, and feel more happiness in my own life regardless of the challenges going on around me. And I want to help others feel the same way too. And who better to show us the way than our canine BFFs?

We can’t be happy 100% of the time. And that’s ok. Sadness, grief, anger – our emotions are part of our human condition. The problem is when we allow negative feelings to become chronic and negatively affect our quality of life. When we become captive to this downward spiral, happiness feels forever out of our reach. Sometimes we need a helping hand, but for those of us who love and cherish the companionship of dogs that hand can sometimes be a gentle paw. And that is what “Paws for The Good Stuff” is about. This interactive journal helps you take a few minutes in the morning upon waking and a few minutes in the evening right before you fall asleep, to reflect on what you are grateful for and how your dogs can inspire you to be happier and more pawsitive. The book should be ready to launch in a couple of months. I’ll keep you posted!

What The Future Holds

My future is uncertain. The pendulum is swinging and I don’t know where it will land. But what I do know is when I l stopped trying so hard to control and plan my future and instead, surrendered to the possibility of creating something new; I began to feel happier, lighter, and more excited. I am embarking on a new adventure with the love of my life. Truly, what could be better? And when I feel the flutter of anxiety, apprehension, and uncertainty, I have my beautiful dogs to remind me that there are a lot of beautiful places to call home. And one can start again if surrounded by hope, love, and family….two and four-legged.

Stay Pawsitive,

Carlyn MDO

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