Illuminated Relationships – finding you in every thing

Post #1 in a brand new series

Someone recently asked me how the animals helped me get to where I am today. I immediately thought, hhmmmm…might make for a good post. Or…better yet…a  s e r i e s of posts.

From a very young age, I have been surrounded by the influences of animals – domestic and wild.

My almost constant dog companion, Bear. Chris and Melody my very first kitty friends. My neighbor’s barn full of sheep and a few cats.

The cows that filled the open pastures surrounding my parents’ old colonial farmhouse, barn and yard.  The acres and acres of wild wood and streams teeming with deer, songbirds, hawks, fish, beaver, salamanders, fox, groundhogs, squirrels, spiders, chipmunks, crow and so many other amazing critters.

Even the dilapidated, old structure of the barn in my yard housed bats, raccoons, skunk and mice.

Not to mention the pair of lovebirds in my living room. Or the guinea pigs and hamsters in the hallway. Or the chinchilla.

For the fostering of my spirit and the deepest parts of me, there was not a better way to grow up.

There have been a couple of excellent professors in my time and many divine teachers in the form of family, friends, boyfriends, acquaintances and clients to this date (not to mention numerous choices, situations and experiences).

But no better caliber of teachers than the animals I grew up with.

They taught me the basics:

to observe

to breathe

to be present

to listen

to allow

consistency

truth

gratefulness

unconditional love

No matter what they loved me, they welcomed me, they nurtured me, they allowed me to be ME in all shining ways possible.

The animals with their calm and centered way of being – their peacefulness was who I was – and I did not even realize it.

I have been a writer since I was old enough to know what paper and pen were. My father was a writer and he taught me the value of carrying paper and pen with me wherever I went. You never knew when a thought might come or something you might want to sketch might appear before you. (I still do this today.)

My carrying case was navy blue with a black strap and made of heavy canvas. Perfect for my adventures in the surrounding wood, through the streams and under groves of spectacular, ancient pines. The case kept my favorite pens, pencils and notebook safe.

The notebook held the inside secret teachings of my greatest mentors.

You know…like the offer we get from one of our super, ingenious mentors for that special teleclass or workshop that holds all the answers to what we need for our business?

Nature and her creatures taught me all I needed to know about the fundamentals of life – the life inside myself and how to relate to life outside of myself.

And I am still learning from my notes…today.

Animals taught me how to lead by example.

Today, I am 37 and still a writer.

I am an avid studier of life. The life inside myself and the life that surrounds me, mirroring me on the outside.

I am a student of all relationships in my life.

Animals provided the solid foundation that I build my life on today.

I am an expert in relationship, connection and communication.

Yes, I work with animals and their people.

But…I mostly work with people.

My work is my passion.

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Please join me back here soon for the next post in this series and learn more about my personal journey and how I have come to do what I do. (Maybe more about the chinchilla, too)

Thank you so much for visiting and for reading!

Tags: animal companion, barn, bird, breathe, cat, chinchilla, communication, connection, crows, deer, dog, fish, fox, gratefulness, guinea pig, hamster, influence, lovebird, notebook, passion, people, relationship, sheep, spiders, squirrels, today, unconditional love, writer