 Anyone ever heard of the telephone game? This is where we sit in a circle and whisper in ear of one person and they take what they've heard and whisper it into the ear of the next person. This happens until we go all the way around the circle and the person who started it, gets to hear what actually comes back to them, which is never, and I mean never, what it is that they said that started the whole thing!
I suppose it's silly of me to bring this into the world of dogs because dogs don't even play "bow wow" and pass it on, they don't gossip! But still I think this is a fair and legitimate example. Meaning, the fact they don't do it, is the lesson. Dogs don't spread rumors and they don't point fingers attempting to make another dog feel bad. Perhaps we could all attempt to act like dogs in this example and give up our telephone games with one another and about one another. Why do we even feel the need to "pass it on"? When most of time, whatever we are talking about, if and when we do this, we actually don't know the whole story, let alone the facts. With dogs, the pack is the pack, you work for acceptance and when you are accepted, you are part of the pack. With humans, particularly the court of public opinion, the telephone game, is thriving. And let's not be confused, the court of public opinion is rampant. When that court turns against a member of our human pack, watch out, because we, the human family, will reject and throw that person out, before we even know the truth. Perhaps this is because we live in a society that seems to perpetuate sensationalism in order to market whatever the next big thing is, or whatever agenda that may be in play. Yes, there is a lot going on behind the scenes that none of us know anything about, but apparently that doesn't appear to stop us from thinking we have the right to judge others and that it would appear that guilty until proven innocent is now common. Give me the world of dogs when it comes to things like this, and again perhaps the best lesson we can take away from all of this, is that to aim to act more like a dog in this case, would be a good thing! Let's stop the gossip, no more "Bow Wow" pass it on, and let's silence the court of public opinion. We may all find that we end up being a whole lot happier. Peace, Love & Wufs, Rev Deb, Chooks & Sam
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 I don't know about you, but when I get home my big boy, Chooks, literally slams himself into me - in a nice way - and demands cuddles. In fact if I don't cuddle he will keep making demands until he gets his belly rubs. My little man, Sam, also demands cuddles, but for him it's all about the whining!
Why do they want cuddles, well that is simple, it feels good. It's an exchange that uplifts their spirits and honestly, it uplifts mine as well. I will go out on a limb and further submit for your consideration that cuddles feel good to us all. So what do we do to get our cuddle time? First, just like my boys who demand it, because they are dogs and that is how they communicate, they are illustrating an important lesson. While we can't demand, it would do well for us to learn to ask for what we need. It can be hard for some of us to do this because we've learned in our lifetime that we need to be tough and stand on our own two feet. Maybe we are always there for others and because of this we forget or disregard our own needs. Asking for cuddles, (use cuddles it as a metaphor), is asking for a hug, a friend to come over and hang out, a meeting for coffee where you get to connect. It's asking for someone to take a walk with you, or maybe it is asking for a cuddle! There is also always the option, and this is important to remember, that you can cuddle yourself! Sometimes that, is the start to becoming someone who can ask for what they need. Give yourself a hug every day and always remember that you are a living breathing work of art, and every moment is a brand new opportunity to become whatever you choose. Peace, Love and Wufs, Rev Deb, Chooks & Sam  Life can be rolling along rather splendidly and suddenly out of no where, something happens! Something you need doesn't show up when you need it. An unexpected bill pops up and wipes out your savings. A friend decides they are upset with you and you don't know why, or. . . You were feeling fine, but find out that your health may not be as good as you thought.
Whatever the reason, rough patches are a fact to life and it is who we are in the face of these things that matters most. I've watched my boys play with their favorite toys and they are in such joy. But then, suddenly the toy gets knocked over the edge, and ends up in the river and the current takes it away while my little man whines on the shore. His life is become unbearable in that second, but as quick as that happens, as we walk away from the scene of the crime, something else catches his attention and it's all about joy again! It's not that he doesn't have a moment, I mean his toy just got lost, but he doesn't hang on to the loss, he moves on. That is the point. Rough patches are never all that fun, but they can be a lot easier to handle if you are willing to shift your attention onto something that brings you happiness, or at the very least feels a little better. The sooner we shift our energy, the sooner our energy shifts! Sometimes that shift can allow for solutions to show up that you simply couldn't see before, and sometimes that shift allows for a whole new door to open. Whatever the outcome, by refocusing your energy, that rough patch ceases to have any power over you and before you know it, you are laughing again! Peace, Love & Wufs, Rev Deb, Chooks & Sam  If you ever take your fur-baby to the ever popular dog park, you may appreciate this reference. In fact this post is the number one reason why I personally do not take my boys to such destinations! Not that I didn't try at one point to do so, but what happened forever tainted my desire to spend time in such places. Trust me, my pups have not missed, or suffered for this lack of this experience, however I know I'm blessed to make such choices. Depending on where you live the dog park may be a necessity.
When dogs get together you can tell very quickly if they are happy to see each other or not by whether or not their hackles are raised. Look out for the hackles and you will be able to tell whether to allow the union or to walk the other way. The hackles are at the back of the neck and between shoulder blades and close to the butt. When that hair raises the dog is in a state that could lead to an aggressive encounter. So easy to understand and to steer away from when you know what to look for. When it comes to you and me, it would be pertinent to note that we too have hackles, but when they prickle, it's an internal thing. Just like witnessing the change in body language with your best friend, when you look out for your own body responses you too can also stay clear of encounters you may prefer not to happen! When you pay attention to the subtle clues, it's amazing how simple it can be to navigate the landscape of life! Peace, Love & Wufs, Rev Deb, Chooks & Sam  You will never hear a dog talk about another dog behind their back. Likewise, you won't hear a dog put another dog down because they don't have a fancy collar. You will never hear a dog lie about another dog, or attempt to undermine them, or dig a hole and try to shove another dog into it! While dogs may fuss, and growl and even get their hackles up, it is all very direct and upfront, there is nothing sneaky or underhanded about it.
Humans on the other hand do talk about each other, do put each other down, will sometimes lie, and will even try to push another human in a hole, metaphorically speaking. They can behave in underhanded and sneaky ways, and it all results in them feeling badly about themselves. Something a dog also never does! What is the point dear humans about putting each other down? What difference does it make what side of the tracks any of us come from, or what level of education we were lucky enough to receive? What is the end result of unhappy behavior but more unhappiness? Let us learn from our beloved furry teachers, that while we may not all get along, we can still respect one another. Let us realize that the greatest gift we can give to one another is the willingness to simply allow us all to be who we are. Just like dogs who are blessedly free of judging others and naturally just coexist with life and accept life for what it is, the simplicity of authenticity, integrity and compassion can be the cornerstones of how we live our lives and interact with one another. Odds are high that if we allow ourselves to keep it simple and keep it real, we may find ourselves a whole lot happier. Or. . . we can find ourselves at the end of a very long game of operator, (Bark. . . pass it on) and in the midst of one misunderstanding after another. It's a choice. Peace, Love & Wugs Rev Deb, Chooks & Sam  There is something important that we all must know and that dogs come by naturally, and that is that life is a gift. When we realize this, we can have a very different experience because we don't get caught in the angst or the pain, which is far too easy for us humans!
Dogs wake up every day excited for whatever is about to happen. They don't make lists, or punish themselves by staying up all hours trying to complete them. They don't struggle with wondering silly stuff like what if things go wrong. They don't get worked up about little things because they are more excited about simply being alive. When was the last time you thought, wow, I'm alive, and I'm so grateful. When was the last time you remember waking up excited to take on the day. When do you allow yourself to consider, what if, things go right? Dogs know instinctually who they are and the role that they play, they don't have to worry about these things, but we do. It's natural for us to wonder about who we are in the world and what we role we are supposed to play in life. We could be envious of dog, for not having to trouble themselves with these things, but instead perhaps we can learn. Maybe we too can begin to find our excitement for each moment with the simple act of gratitude for the fact that we are alive today. We woke up this morning and not everybody did. Celebrate being alive and allow yourself to live in the possibilities of the unknown, because what if it all works out? Peace, Love & Wufs, Rev Deb, Chooks & Sam  Any dog will indicate that they are not happy when they are irritated with something, or someone. They don't hide the way they feel, and they don't "tolerate" something because they think they have no choice. They simply move away from whatever is bothering them as soon as they can and move on to something else. They also don't dwell on it. They don't leave it and think about it for hours or days, wondering how they could have done it differently or if they should have said something, and so on. They are not tortured in their imagination. They let go and its gone! Dogs don't have pet peeves, they wouldn't even understand the concept. They like or don't like something and that is that. We on the other had tend to put up with things that don't make us happy, we don't say what's on our mind, when we could manage to communicate with clarity and instead keep it bottled up. Slowly, but surely as we continue to tolerate and cope, put up with and allow, we reach boiling point and things erupt! We also dwell and wonder, play over in our minds all the things that we should have and could have done or said. And this my friends, we can do for days and sometimes even longer! We not only have pet peeves, we have melt downs! Consider the fact that even when a dog actually does have their version of a melt down, once it's done it's over. Let's take a lesson and realize that hanging on to stuff, dealing with things by not dealing with them and subjecting ourselves to those things that do not serve us, is something to stop doing! Instead stop - take a beat and acknowledge what's really going on for you. Drop - into yourself and pay attention to how you are feeling, and listen - hear your inner guidance because it will help you to navigate what is needed so that you let go and let Dog! Love, Peace & Wufs Rev Deb, Chook & Sam  There is nothing worse then seeing your fur baby going to town, scratching away and realizing that the reason they are scratching is because they have fleas! That's when you run screaming. . . ARGH.
You know it's not a good thing because Fleas expand their numbers every three days and they are virtually invincible. Once they have found their way onto your baby, you know that they have found their way into your home, and you know that means they are getting into your carpet, your couch and just about everything else! No one likes fleas. Now think of fleas as a metaphor for that thing that is bugging you. That thing you picked up somewhere along that way that you just can't get off your mind. The constant presence of its energy has you continually playing it over and over, and no matter how many times you do this, it still keeps coming back demanding more attention. If only, I should have and why didn't I, are just some of the ways it sneaks into your house, your bed and your dreams. Fleas of this, or any kind do no one any good, so perhaps it's time to treat them so that they go away, remembering that whatever you do to deal with them, new eggs hatch within three days, so you will need to be diligent. For your babies, there are all sorts of treatments that do work and will free them from those nasty pests. For you and me, there are also options, however here is the one I highly recommend. Love, forgive and accept. Whatever the case may be, leading with love is always a good idea. Forgiveness, no matter the cause, eases your burden and acceptance, allows for solutions to come. Rid your life of fleas, and find yourself itch free! Peace, Love & Wufs, Rev Deb, Chooks & Sam  We all would love to think that tomorrow is always going to come. But. . . as many of us know, that is not the truth of it. So why is it that we live life as if we have all the time in the world?
How many dogs do you know that let the sticks go by and not go after them? I know there are always exceptions, but for the most part, dogs always go after the stick as if their lives depend on it! Now am I saying your life depends on you chasing a stick? Literally - of course not. Metaphorically however, it applies. Think of the stick as your dreams. When we are little we all have dreams of some sort or another, but somehow life tends to steer us away from our dreams, especially if they are big ones, or ones that fall outside of the acceptable box. Too many folks want to tell us to take our head out of the clouds and give up, but if we are lucky, we don't listen. Interestingly enough not every stick calls to a dog! I've tried to give sticks to my boys and for some reason they don't want them. The wood isn't the right kind, maybe there is an order, or it's rotten. But when it's the right wood, boy or boy are they all in. Think of your dreams in the same way, the ones that call to you are the ones you are meant to have. Otherwise said, your dreams are yours because you are meant to have them. Consider this next time you reminisce about what might have been. It's never too late, if the dream still comes up for you, its because it's waiting for you to not just chase it, but actually live it. Dogs cross over the rainbow bridge with no regrets, how about we all make the same promise, so that should the time come that we cross over our own rainbow we do so after living a fully expressed life. Tomorrow is a gift, always live in the present. Chase the stick and enjoy! Peace, Love & Wufs, Rev Deb, Chooks & Sam  When I need my big boy Chooks to lay down and relax, I give him one of his favorite bones, They are made out of Bamboo and they withstand his jaws, better then most. He loves them, he is very content to chew on them and ultimately fall asleep. He seems to enjoy the focused time where he simply allows himself to fully engage in an activity that brings him joy.
When was the last time you did that. Dogs will contently chew on things for long periods of time and they are relaxed and happy. Perhaps we could all take a lesson from this and start to spend some time every day focused on something that gives us joy. When we do this we might find our thoughts relax and perhaps the answer, or solution we are looking for gets a chance to find us. When we take a moment and stop, allowing ourself a chance to catch our breath, whatever may be going one, eases. Room for misunderstanding lessens, and we discover new ideas. Maybe it's simply making a cup of calming tea and setting out, as I am right now, listening to the night sing to me on my back porch, chewing on this blog post! When we allow ourselves the time to chew on it, to consider, to think, to imagine, to play, or simply to be present, we allow ourselves everything. Just consider that when you offer a dog something to chew on, they don't refuse it, tell you they are too busy, or feel they don't deserve it. They take it and enjoy! Take your moments, give back to yourself. Listen for the inner voice inside that comes when you allow yourself time, and joy. Peace, Love & Wufs Rev Deb, Chooks & Sam |
Our WishDina Rae and Rev Deb invite you to enjoy this curated experience. May your tails wag with satisfaction and your hearts be warmed by all that you see. Archives
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