I can CHOOSE! So can you!!

Published July 23, 2012 | By admin

I can CHOOSE!

My dog Cheyenne chose to leave her physical body on June 11^th. I used to say I didn’t know how I would stand it when she left me.

Even in her leaving she is teaching me lessons. Like the river in the picture there are two directions I can go. I can choose grief or I can choose joy. I experienced deep grief the first few days after Cheyenne passed. Then something magical happened.

As I would start to feel the pain Cheyenne would appear – she would laugh at me and tell me I could be sad if I wanted but reminding me that I could CHOOSE to be joyful instead. I can choose to remember all the fun we had hiking , or just sitting looking out over the beauty of Sedona. I can remember how good I felt witnessing her absolute joy as she rolled around in the grass or on the carpet scratching her head and snorting with pleasure. I can replay the short film in my head of her chasing a rabbit – always giving up just before catching one. I can feel the warmth of her against me in the frigid night when we camped at Monument Valley. I can watch her splash and play in Oak Creek,or run up Castle Rock. I can celebrate her unconditional love, her peace, her complete absorption in the moment. I can see those deep brown eyes as they demanded a treat after dinner. I remember her dignity and tolerance as smaller dogs would bark and nip at her when she looked at me as if to say, “Mom, what’s their problem?” I can remember how she met me at the door every day tail wagging, grinning ear to ear, dancing around, so happy to see me no matter what….

Or I can CHOOSE grief!

I always have a choice. This has been a quiet revelation for me that I can CHOOSE to be happy in the wake of her death. In the past I would have chosen to wallow in my grief. Now I feel the grief and then it’s as if I watch it drift away, followed quickly with joy that I got to share my life with this beautiful animal friend.

I still believe in honoring our emotions. I believe that if we don’t honor our emotions we generally stuff them in our bodies where they cause more havoc. I believe that I can let them come up, feel them and then watch them gently drift away.

And I believe that I can CHOOSE whether to stay in that place of grief or CHOOSE differently.

I’m choosing to:

See the grief

Feel the grief

Let it drift away

CHOOSE JOY!

If you need help dealing with your choices I am always available for coaching…you can reach me at 602.999.2493 or email me BakeR@ThePsychiccoach.net.

Feel free to leave your comments below. Namaste,