Yesterday an old face book post memory came up and I realized it has been two years since my beloved dog died. I was his "mom" for nine years out of his ten. He was my best friend and major source of comfort as well as my muse. i learned to paint so I could paint a portrait of him. I have featured him in many artworks now.
I became undone for a little while with grief. I took his stuffed toy out of my closet. It smells like him and I try to rarely use it to calm myself to preserve that smell, but the grief was so deep. I cried and held it close. It was his favorite, and as big as him. It was funny to watch him drag it around. I was then sent the song, "Smile." I had painted another portrait of his last night and I titled it "Smile. "I had posted the lyrics too when he died. It came up unexpectedly yesterday and I know that my dog sent me that song to comfort me and to tell me he is with me still.
Soon, the tears stopped and I found I was smiling.
This is the painting of a photo of my ex and my dog on his last night. I have a lot of feelings still around my ex, but I will forever be grateful at how calm and strong he was at the end the next day when we had to put our dog down because he was suffering. I thought I would be brave, but it broke me when he died. My grief was enormous and the vet cried and had to leave the room.
My little cat Cleo has the same loving, comforting nature. How lucky I was and am to be loved by these angels in disguise.
Oh how easily grief comes rushing in when we least expect it but how beautiful and so lovely to have this painting of your darling Toby and memories of how your ex was there for him and for you when truly needed.
We are all brought to tears when connecting to another's loss as it also connects us to our own. May we all have healing over time for our past pains and may love always win in the end over loss, pain, and endless grief.
Much love to you and to precious Toby now and forevermore.
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@ghandigirl our animal family members are, in my opinion, some of the most loving non judgmental beings in our lives. Not to say the humans we share our lives with are not but we all have our moments. Not so with a dog. I’ve never had a cat so I can’t say but I know the feelings are just as deep. He’s sending his love to you. I am too. I loved your painting. ❤️
May you always live in the sunshine of sweet Toby's life. Thank you for sharing your beautiful painting with us.
Hi, I am hoping some of you can spare some light for my older sister. She is mildly autistic and was not diagnosed until well into middle age. Her problems are not so much her autism, but instead are psychological damage stemming from living 40+ years in a world having no clue about why she was different. She has also had a few traumatic life experiences (not things that would seriously traumatize most people, but did her). Every year she seems to get more and more anxious, high-strung, paranoid, and agoraphobic. (She kind of enjoys COVID because now the grocery store will bring her food out to the car so she doesn't have to go in.) My concern that she is NOT happy and she is getting gradually less independent. She has goals, but they would be ambitious for anyone, and basically impossible for a person with her degree of anxiety, disorganization, and agoraphobia.
She won't take meds and talk therapy is useless because she won't listen-- only complain and talk in endless circles. However, recently she's been getting neurofeedback to calm down her brain. This seems to help a bit in the short term. The same therapist is going to give her an EMDR session on Tuesday to try to "unstick" some of the trauma.
I wish something could get through to her to let her relax and let Spirit lead her to what will fulfill her, and to let her understand in her heart that the world is not her enemy.
So if anyone could help with this and especially with the EMDR on Tuesday morning, that would be awesome. Her name is Janice and she is petite with long, red, graying hair --if that helps visualiation.
THANK YOU! ❤️
I will send some prayers out tonight for everyone on this forum, but also very importantly for the finalising of the electoral college as well!
@ghandigirl thank you for sharing your painting of Toby. When i look at it, i can clearly see how much you love that little guy.
@ana i am hopeful that the EMDR treatment will help your sister. It really helped me, more than any other mode that i tried. I could tell the difference after the first treatment, and continued with it once a week for several months (just so you know she may need more than one session).
peace&love
@ana i am hopeful that the EMDR treatment will help your sister. It really helped me, more than any other mode that i tried. I could tell the difference after the first treatment, and continued with it once a week for several months (just so you know she may need more than one session).
peace&love
Thank you, that's encouraging. If it shows promise, I'll fund as many sessions as she needs as long as she'll agree to go.