Luna, my Beagle, had surgery yesterday on her back leg. Somehow, the ALC ligament, tore. It needed to replaced. She has gone through surgeries before but never like this. So the level of pain she is experiencing afterward scares me a lot.
She cries, I rush to her side. She looks at me with a certain look in her eyes and I am down on my knees, offering her water, grilled sirlon , grilled cod -- Luna, honey, how can I help? When it comes to my animals, I am a woman of action.
It doesn't matter what else is going on. If Vashka and Raya need blankets or special herbs or more hay -- whatever it is -- I produce. I'm not bragging. I know everyone reading this does the same for their animal family. Whatever it is our animals need, we find a way to make it happen.
You may have read Thursday's post from the woman who gets up every morning at 4 a.m. so she can ride her horse, who needs the exercise to ward off his Insulin Resistance. I know of another customer who has two jobs -- one as a teacher and another as a grocery store clerk -- so she can take care of her horses in the manner to which they are accustomed.
I know I am far from alone in my devotion to my animals. The question that occurs to me though, is this: Why don't I care for myself like I care for my animals? "If you loved yourself the way you love your horses you would rise to a whole new level in your life" my friend Delia told me. We were talking about self-care. Ah, self care.
For me it can be a gigantic step to simply buy myself a pair of socks without guilt. (The other day I bought some Alpca wool socks. But before I shelled out the $24 for them,I had to pray and ask if it really was okay to splurge like that. Yes, Lori, I heard. YES. Well, alright, I thought, and tentatively bought something luxurious for myself).
But Vashka? Raya? Luna? "Whatever it takes, I don't care how much it costs," I heard myself saying when I found out Luna now needs some joint supplement, probably for the rest of her life. When it comes to my babies, money manifestation is not a problem.
Not so long ago, I was a HUGE leap of faith for me to pay for the care of my animals. I am not exaggerating when I say that I have had maybe $14 in the bank and the horses needed hay. A ton of hay in Oregon costs $255. What to do? What should I do?
Not very long after that, it was as a set of instructions were dowloaded into my brain. I followed instructions -- introduce an autoship program. I sent the newsletter. And within an hour I had three or four autoships on which I could depend. That was three years ago and I have never stopped feeling the impact of that experience.
"Lori -- do that for yourself," my friend Delia said. But Delia, I countered, that's like telling someone who has 35 cents that they need to spend $1. Then another truth arose.
We talked a little more and I realized it's not about making money. It's about making a commitment. This time, to myself. My animal family has taught me how to do that. I know exactly how to draw the mental line in the sand.
I know how to ask for Guidance. I know how to follow through. So now it's time to do that for myself.
Maybe, just maybe, this doesn't require sacrifice. It didn't with my animal family. The whole world expands when I commit to them. We meet new people. We go new places. We have fun. The love for an animal will change everything if you let it.
I bought a nice rug to place next to my bed the other day. I have been wanting one for a long time. Now, every time I put my bare feet down on that rug on a cold morning I am grateful to myself. Not so long after I bought the rug I bought a new microwave that actually works. Every time I heat my coffee, I smile.
Do I have this lesson down perfectly? Ha. Just a moment ago I looked at Luna, laying on her fluffy bed, healing from her surgery. My cottage gets so cold. I don't mind being cold (translation = it's only me) . Then Luna shivered. Off I went to make that fire, laughing at myself as I gathered the wood.
As many of you know, I work closely with holistic equine experts.
Catherine Bird, author of A Healthy Horse the Natural Way and Equine Naturopath Dr. Cassie Schuster have both helped me help my animals. Over and over, I hear them say that animals will take on our problems to lessen our burdens and/or really get the lesson in front of us.
Self care is my lesson. I'm starting to get it. A huge thank you to all of my animals, especially Vahska and Luna. With everything I have and all of who I am today, thank you.
Lori Yearwood
Skode's Horse Treats, Inc.
www.skodeshorsetreats.com
"It's About a Lifestyle"
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