Last week I hosted the thought-provoking blog post from Leah Houseman, about Self-Care in a War Zone. She brought home the point that we need self-care especially in hard times.

This week, it’s my turn to learn that from personal experience. My adorable Jack Russell crossed the Rainbow Bridge on Saturday 16 August. I’m still shocked every time I say it. It was a long, long journey with liver disease, surgeries and arthritis. He’d had enough, we’d had enough and his passing, though unbearably sad, was also a blessing.

I am now experiencing the necessity of extreme self-care in a difficult time.

Often the temptation is to be there for every one else or ignore our pain and dive into work to avoid feeling it. Yes, those strategies can be helpful and I have often used them too. What can happen, though, is that the pain hits us later, unexpectedly. Or we numb ourselves so much that we can’t experience the joys of life either.

We both (Andrew and I) decided to be gentle with ourselves. Jack (our boy’s name) was a gentle dog, kind, sweet, loving and adorable. So we’re honouring his life by giving that to ourselves as well.

I’ll write more posts about his last days, his messages to us, what we’re learning and taking from these experiences. For now, I’m letting myself feel the feelings, and as taught in one of the methods I love and teach (The Sedona Method) – the more I allow the feelings, and welcome them, the quicker they seem to leave. We ARE not our feelings, by any means. Feelings come and go, like clouds in front of the sky, unless we hold onto them.

We’ve cried many tears over weeks and days. We’re spending time in nature. I’m taking it more gently work-wise. We’ve looked at hundreds of photographs, spent time remembering and laughing. We’ve lit candles, sat deep in thought, and reminded each other of his cute habits. A kind, gentle process. And we’ve been blessed to be able to do this with great kindness, love and gentleness towards each other.

Every time the tears bubble up again from nowhere, Andrew gives me a gentle hug. No judgement, not trying to fix the pain. No suggestions of what I should do. Both just allowing what is, to be, with love.

It’s been a beautiful blessing, this painful journey.

Maybe you need a few pointers in the self-care direction? I’d love to invite you to a webinar I’m hosting on Thursday, 21 August, at 7 pm SAST (1 pm EST) with great self-care tips and techniques, a few surprises and a big thank you-gift that you can apply for self-care in future.

It’ll be fun to see you there! Here are the details. Type in your self-care questions ahead of time so they can get in the queue!

Savvy Self-Care Strategies Seminar

The details will be emailed in my newsletter shortly. If you’re not on it, and want to listen, go ahead and register here. You’ll receive the details shortly!

Mark this in your calendar while it’s on your mind. Hope over there right now, and type in your self-care questions!