A riff on death, dying, and the afterlife after revisiting old posts

I thought I’d riff a bit on death (the grief people may experience), dying (and perhaps the suffering some endure), and the afterlife here after reading (and listening) to an older post of mine: https://sheilamurrey.net/2023/05/06/invitation-and-dream-about-paul-newman/ and after creating the video book review of How to Become a Christian in 7 Days by Russell Brand.

NOTE: If any of my words here trigger you, it’s because there’s a wounded or fragmented part of you that is calling out for healing. And remember this is my journey and my truth that I speak of and none of it may apply to you–I seek no human’s approval. For the dear persons my message resonates with, I welcome your feedback and appreciate your time.

Overview

I reflect on the complexities of death, grief, and the afterlife, drawing from personal experiences and cultural references. I discuss the spectrum of death experiences, from sudden, peaceful passings to prolonged, painful ones, and the comfort provided by the 23rd Psalm. I mention Dr. Raymond Moody and his book, along with shared death groups, noting the limited human understanding of the afterlife. The speaker also references Russell Brand’s book and their own spiritual journey, emphasizing the importance of language in addressing these topics and offering support to those grieving or facing death.

An artful rendition of the 23rd Psalm. –Wikipedia

I reflect on the impact of death, expressing sympathy for those grieving and emphasizing the importance of joy and gratitude. I discuss my belief in an omniscient God and the interconnectedness of all beings, sharing personal experiences of loss, including the deaths of loved ones and a family member’s murder. Despite these tragedies, I found peace through love and the belief that everything happens for a reason, advocating for daily gratitude and trust in a higher power. The speaker also touches on the concept of Omniscience (Source, Creator, God) and the role of humans as fractals of Omniscience, suggesting that love and connection transcend individual experiences.

Audio (part 1):

Audio (part 2):

I know how suddenly death can impact our lives, and I’m truly sorry for any bit of grief anyone is experiencing right now or will experience. I know that everybody dies. It’s a fact that I lived live with. I’ve never been afraid of death, though maybe a little bit about the actual dying process. But I’ve seen it happen slowly, and I’ve seen it happen quickly, and it’s happened shockingly to people in our lives as well. So whether we call it loneliness, sadness, anger, emptiness, or any such other emotion, I’m sorry for the loss we feel so deeply when it comes to missing a person or or a pet within our daily routine, and I pray you will fill that void of time and space with things that are pleasing to you and offer joy. Joy, I believe, is the highest feeling, sensation, or experience that we can know in this life, anyway. And realize too that that person or pet you’ve lost would always want you to live in joy. I hope you know that they loved being with you. If that’s the one message I can get across here, I don’t want you to lose a minute of your life. I don’t want to lose a minute of my life, this precious life, crying and sitting in grief, or worse, depression. I watched my dad go through that after my mother passed. So, if you’ve lost anyone for any reason, no matter how shocking, because I know how precious this life is. When I meet and I pray when I cross over, I will immediately meet my Creator, Source, Energy, Ever Living, Almighty, Omniscience God. Whether that be whatever form that takes, and whatever that experience is, whether it be I meet Christ Jesus face to face, He appearing before me, or when I’m simply enveloped by the brightest light imaginable. I hope I hear. I want to hear the words, “It is done, and I want this supreme presence of omniscience, God, to know I did all I could in this life, even when humbly it was not always my best. I I know I’ve not always done my best. So truly, in this, in the big overarching view of life, I believe everything happens for a reason. I’ve just seen the and experienced the resonance of those words so many times, and more importantly, reaching for that higher, ethereal message of everything resolves to gratitude. When you sit in your gratitude every day, when you sit there, when you meditate, or you’re just sitting for five minutes being grateful, think about how every single thing in your life has happened to bring you to the point where you are today, and how then everything, even the things that were hurtful, even the things that were traumatic, or you didn’t have the closure that you wanted, but still now sitting here in this moment, you can say these words. Everything resolves to gratitude because you are grateful for where you are today, even if you’re not in the best place that you think you could be. But at this moment, this very moment you’re hearing my voice, you can self-reflect and realize that everything has brought you to where you are today, and that you’re grateful for it. So I continue to practice this. I let go and let God. I know those are that’s an easy thing for people to say, but if we really practice that and we work on practicing that every day, in every situation, I believe we’ll be the better for it. I remember the word trust dropping into my mind when I walked out of the hospital. The night of it was nighttime by the time I walked out from being there the whole day with Richard when he had a stroke in October of 2022.

But that surreal time in our lives supremely highlighted for me that Omniscience, an Ever-Living, Ever-Conscious, Ever-Expanding, Ever-Pulsing, Ever-BEing… Energy… Nothing (no thing) happens outside of Omniscience because Omniscience knows everything, and hears everything, and sees everything, and feels everything, experiencing everything we do. We may, as I’ve said before here in this blog–we’re fractals of omniscience, so we may even be forming God because through our very eyes we’re seeing all the different aspects of the world and creation that perhaps God doesn’t see otherwise. I don’t know, but I sort of like to think about it like that. Like how many people there are on the planet-8 billion, so those are 8 billion pairs of eyes that God’s looking through all the time! Thus, WE are ALL enveloped by Omniscience. And WE are ALL so LOVED!!

Knowing, just believing in an Omniscience Presence can help us FLOAT on water! It can lift us out of despair and grant us HOPE for tomorrow! Think about that NOW if you’ve recently experienced loss.

Even after my dad passed away unexpectedly, (yet, he was the picture of health, by the way, not overweight, walked miles every day, but he had lived in deep grief over the loss of my mom, his wife of nearly 60 years). Mom had just passed away 21 months before Dad passed, so my husband still believes that that my dad died of a broken heart. He died deep in grief. I wish I could have helped him in some way, bring him out of that. But again, you know, nobody’s perfect. We’re not perfect. We, even if we feel bad about it later, that’s again a waste of time.

A year or two after my dad passed, my first cousin Greg passed, and then, and I had reason to suspect hospital negligence, but I don’t know. I will never know, as he had several issues going on at once. Then a few months, after Greg passed, his brother was killed. His brother Josh passed after being murdered in Myrtle Beach, South Carolina. While on a mini vacation with his family. It had been Josh’s birthday. He took his wife and son to the beach, drove to South Carolina from West Virginia, and was murdered on their last night there. They would have been leaving and out of town in just a few hours, but somebody had to come upon his path, and an altercation took place. Whether it was verbal yelling back and forth initially or a setup (as I suspect), nobody really knows. But cameras did catch the event, so police knew exactly who murdered him. And yes, our family was shocked, angry, sad-all the emotions you can imagine. Plus, it took years, and I blame the government of South Carolina for this. But it took years to get his murderer to trial and eventually put in prison. The state of South Carolina let that animal walk the streets all that time on $8500 bond! Unforgivable and ludicrous!) Though, like I said, police knew exactly who killed Josh at the time. The wheels of justice turned ridiculously slow, if at all. Even after all of this, some have wondered how I’ve found peace, and how, considering these turn of events, I can breathe easy and sleep well, even in spite of overthinking some nights. I think it’s because I love my family forward and back.

I know that love truly does conquer all, and in multitudinous ways, I know because I’ve glimpsed it. We are not alone, and we are all connected. I know I’m connected to my ancestors and relatives via the blood that runs through my veins. I kiss my hand. I blow them kisses often throughout each day. We’re also connected via Spirit. Perhaps the Spirit is Omniscience. I don’t know. And I am fine sitting in the “I don’t know” because that’s the mystery of it all-mystery of life and the afterlife. And so the circle goes.

Transcribed by https://otter.ai

Related previous posts:

My book, We Are All Connected: The How and The Why

Here’s the link where you can grab a copy of, We Are All Connected: The How and The Why. An analytical mind searches for answers.

See me talking about my new 5th book on YouTube –>> https://youtube.com/shorts/RKmIIucsMs4?feature=share and here’s how to get a paperback copy of, We Are All Connected: The How and The Why. https://amzn.to/4s7n3Jg or eBook version: https://amzn.to/3PAvfUK

Find me over on my YouTube channel for JIGGLE WIGGLE, mobility movement videos, video book reviews, and more at: https://youtube.com/@spiralsister

Yours in consciousness-expansion as we evolve and revolve during our mystical awakening. All while doing-my-egoless-best, to take you on a limitless, spiraling thought ride to better health, through doing more with ease, to help us sustain the JOY in our lives! (With lots of Gratitude throughout.)

Sheila “Spiral Sister” Murrey

The information provided is for educational purposes only and is not intended to treat, diagnose or prescribe.

About us

My husband and I are creators of life-enhancing spiritual and soulful information, music, and digital designs for wholly vibrant living.

We’re songwriters open to placing any of our 1,500+ original songs in TV, film, games, etc. We’re also seeking bands to play our songs. Video content creators, filmmakers, podcasters, production companies, deejays, Vloggers, YouTubers, and more can use our original music and songs in movies, TV shows, video intros, and such.

My husband of 21 years, Richard Murrey, is an award-winning illustrator, plus he’s a seasoned guitarist, bass player, and songwriter (having penned over 1,500 original songs). You can view his artwork and hear original songs at: https://www.youtube.com/user/richardmurrey

Here’s a video of us performing on Vimeo: https://vimeo.com/416711742?ref=fb-share

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Integrating the Spirals: The Rabbit hole of Longing

In continuing my chats with fellow blogger, artist, and friend, Linda of Creative Artworks Blog, I discovered another rabbit hole of inquiry and self reflection this morning. And it is the rabbit hole of ‘Longing.’

When I leave someone or something, (or they leave me), I continue to feel a sense of sadness. Ugh! Yet, I know that is somehow tied to selfishness on my part.

Hmmm.

I think of the song, Everytime you go away.

Selfishness is tied to ownership.

Meditating on this, I find that when I say, ‘my’ anything, I am attaching some level of ownership to the person, place, or thing. Some degree of ownership comes from loving. Interesting!

Perhaps this is one reason the Buddhists teach us to detach. The less attached we are, the less suffering.
when we can focus on the new homes or adventures our far away loved ones can have without us, instead of thinking about how much we miss them, it frees our thinking minds!

And perhaps in this “We Are All Connected” metaphysical world, it frees them too! The frequencies are all intermingling.

What is bound on earth is bound in heaven?

My YouTube channel

JIGGLE BUTT has been continuing to work out and get some views and Likes.

These daily videos hold me accountable to get my daily exercise in AND promote my husband’s original songs too! Thus, I love it!

I really hope to encourage others over 60 to create their own Jiggle Butt videos too!

Link to my YouTube channel where you can see the videos: https://youtube.com/@spiralsister

Yours in consciousness-expansion as we evolve and revolve during our mystical awakening. All while doing-my-egoless-best, to take you on a limitless, spiraling thought ride to better health, through doing more with ease, to help us sustain the JOY in our lives! (With lots of Gratitude throughout.)

Sheila “Spiral Sister” Murrey

The information provided is for educational purposes only and is not intended to treat, diagnose or prescribe.

About us

My husband is an award-winning illustrator, plus he’s a seasoned guitarist, bass player, and songwriter (with over 400 original songs). You can view some of his artwork and listen to many of his songs at: https://www.youtube.com/user/richardmurrey

Here’s a video of us performing on Vimeo: https://vimeo.com/416711742?ref=fb-share

My books on Amazon

I have four books on Amazon. The two most recent are: Have Yourself a Wholly Vibrant Life: Reversing Asthma and Other Chronic Illness Naturally and Blue Eyes: Ethereal Messages of Connection.

Connect with us

Here are the social channels where I am most active:

…a bit of Irish Wisdom

* In Irish when you talk about emotion, you don’t say“I am sad“,you say“sadness is on me“ “Tá brón orm” And I love that because there’s an …

…a bit of Irish Wisdom

Playing the “blame game” – climbing the emotional guidance ladder to a better feeling place

Playing the blame (guilt) game, ugh! But, I am where I am (as Abraham says) so, it’s gotta be okay. I am where I am in the middle of dis-ease, or grief, or shame, or self-loathing, or x-y-z, but, I am where I am and it’s okay. Why is it okay? Because I am where I am and I’ve got no other choice. Except to consciously take steps to improve my feelings, and reach a better feeling place. I want to feel better. I know it’s possible, but in “this moment”, my “now”, I am where I am!
I thought it might help me (and maybe others reading this who unfortunately fall into grief and despair), if I write down a couple of ways I worked through my pain over putting my beloved (almost 14 year old) best furry friend, Lou-Lou’s Beau “down”. (By the way, why the hell do they call it “putting him/her down” anyway? I think it should be “released” because my intention was to release him from his pain! Ugh! Beau 2009 summer
I also do EFT tapping using these statements which, helps to calm me and provide emotional relief. So here we go. Abraham (from the book, “Ask and It Is Given” state there are 22 groups of emotions one can be in, in any point in time. #22 is the lowest vibration, the bottom of the list. The lowest of the lows. So that’s where I start. Not to wallow, but you gotta start somewhere and that’s where I was the day I let Beau “go”.
The intention of “Ask and It Is Given” is to help us locate where we are, what state we’re in emotionally, at any given point, and move UP to a better feeling place on the list. The following are my words, using their numbering scale. I am not plagiarizing – but if you follow their list, you’ll see where I’m getting the terms from. Also, this is going to take awhile, so you may want to check back in a week or so to see how I’m doing, as my intention is to climb the emotional guidance ladder to a better feeling place.
22) I can find all kinds of reasons to feel guilty at this point (and I am talking “to” Beau at this point):
  • I could have researched more about your eye problem;
  • I could have had your eye removed; Beau closeup
  • I could have changed my mind, at any point, during the last year and a half regarding, “no more surgery” on you, after you had the kidney / bladder stone surgery.
  •  Stupid insensitive me held a belief, for some reason, that you shouldn’t have any more surgeries. Why?!? That was a limiting belief! Ugh!
  •  I was so afraid you couldn’t take another surgery. You’re older, you aren’t strong enough (Who the hell am I to judge that?)
  •  I’ve bought other things this year that I could have spent that money on you instead. You were much more important to me!!
  •  I could have spent every waking moment with you, instead of going shopping, or going to a class, or working! (Okay, really?)
  •  I miss you so much! I hurt because you are not here! I miss holding you, caring for your eyes, taking you to the groomer, feeding you, and walking with you!Beau 2008
  •  You were powerless and I feel horrible that you tried to tell me what to do but I didn’t listen, didn’t realize when you face planted off the couch that you were trying to pop your own eye out to relieve your pain and heal your body! Ugh?
  •  I am in despair that I now have learned that I could have asked one of your previous veterinarian’s to remove your eye! Actually none suggested that to me or we would have done that with the first eye then maybe the second eye would never had gone bad!!
  •  What is the point of living this life when everything / everyone dies eventually?!? This is depressing!
  • My mom loved you (and Lou-Lou) so much too! She didn’t get to say good-bye to you! Waaaaa!!My mom snuggles Beau 2008
21) I am feeling so unworthy of all the trust you placed in me to care for you.
  • Unworthy of your unconditional love!!! Gasp!
  • I feel such guilt for not doing ALL I could have for you!
  • My ignorance should be no excuse!!
20) I am jealous that the neighbor’s dog is probably older than you, but he’s still around!
  • He seems to be doing fine.
  • Oh, but he’s a mixed breed.
  • I never get jealous… but I am in this moment!
  • Others around us, they seem to be able to “go on living” without any thought about what we’re going through! The nerve! (I know, emotions are not logical!)
19) I feel anger at myself for not doing more! But, how much more could I “really” do?
  • Anger at the doctors, especially that opthamologist we saw a year a a half ago for not offering the eye removal option!!
  • They just wanted me to keep bringing you back to them every three months for a refill script / recheck for a compounded eye drop that you’d supposedly need every day of your life (mail order available only from NJ!!). Such bullshit!! Beau 2009 hanging out
19) I am discouraged that other people and doggies have to go through this trauma too!!
  • What discourages me is the inevitability of it all!
  • Why live this life if it’s all so futile?
  • Look how adorable both you (and Lou-Lou) were back in the day (2008) with my mom! My mom with Beau and Lou-Lou 2008
18) I don’t feel revenge – yet.
Wait, perhaps I do! I think I understand the revenge thing now. I feel that for myself. So, anger turned outward is revenge or spite. But, anger turned INWARD is depression, guilt, or self-loathing.
17) I am angry at myself for not being more bold on your behalf! But, I know you couldn’t live in your physical body forever. Ugh! This anger really feels strong in my body. I think yes, anger turned inward, to myself, causes depression, sadness, and pain.
16) I am discouraged.
  • I am disheartened that you suffered needlessly for months, (Gasp!) God forbid, more than a year!!
  • I am utterly discouraged with some of the veterinarian’s we went to over the years.
  • What about the guy who told me you just had “old doggy eye”. Jesus! Was he for real?
  • Then the next doctor, who I really liked, when I told him what the previous doctor had said, did not disagree with him, but did suggest more medications for you. And that I should take you to an opthamologist, which I did.
  • I am discouraged for others, that they’ll have to find a way, and figure this stuff out – even while their doggies (or cats) suffer needlessly. Why can’t we just “know” it all? Why can’t we go to one person, Google it, or read a book to find out?
  • Why all of this time seemingly wasted on the “trying” to figure it out?
15) I blame myself for your pain.
  • I will never trust myself to ever have another pet.
  • I am horrible! Besides, I could never replace YOU!
  • You were my best boy and best doggy EVER. Period!
  • This is the worst ever feeling!
  • I am so sorry Beau!!!
  • I trusted professionals to help (oh, maybe now I feel vengeful?) the experts should have given us the option a year ago to have your eye removed! Beau after Critter Oil bath3
14) I am worried if I did the right thing in “releasing” you.
  • My adult children (thank you sweet ones) have comforted me, saying I did, but I have all of these questions racing through my mind. Angst!
  • I almost never worry, but I am holding my worry finger (as I learned in Jin Shin Jyutsu) so I must be worried.
  • I feel the need to harmonize my worry over your suffering.
  • You almost never showed discomfort! But that didn’t mean you didn’t feel discomfort! Oh Beau! My best boy! Beau front Aug 2014
13) Doubt. Didn’t what I just say, show how much doubt I am in? Doubt and worry seem so tightly joined!
  • I doubt that I did the right thing (releasing you from your physical body), and then I doubt that I waited too long to do it!
  • I can’t make up my mind at all when I am in doubt.
  • I am mentally running to and fro!
  • This is sickening!
  • I cannot allow myself to stay in doubt for too long. I will make my stomach upset. I will make myself crazy… okay I might already be on “that train”. Hmmm
  • I doubt that I’ll get “your” ashes back, and what would I do with them anyway?
  • I doubt that your physical remains will comfort me. I took a lock of your fur – that comforts me a little.
  • I doubt I’m going to feel any better today. Beau and Lou-Lou Easter haircuts 2009
12) I am so ridiculously disappointed in myself.
I should have known better, and not stopped researching until I totally resolved your eye issues.
Why? Because I recall a dog trainer I had taken Lou-Lou to for several weeks, years ago told me, “The dog is this tall, but you are this tall! You can see things and make the choice to avoid them!” Truer words have never been spoken. Even if you are five feet tall, you are taller than your dog and can navigate them through life.
11) I am overwhelmed by sadness.
  • I seem to cry at the drop of a hat.
  • I look at your picture on my desk at work, and I cry.
  • I start to talk about you to someone, and I cry.
  • But I am starting to see that sometimes, I don’t cry.
  • And that makes me know that I am definitely reaching, trying to find, a better feeling place – even if just for a few seconds or minutes in between thoughts of you.
  • Thoughts of missing you so very much.
  • I was overwhelmed with responsibilities and did not place you in a higher priority of concern.
  • I am overwhelmed by the love and support of my family and friends during this time (though I do not feel deserving of it).
10) I am frustrated and irritated with the way I handled, or failed to appropriately handle my grief. Okay though, that’s one reason I am working through the emotions via this blog.
Oh, a few people attempted to encourage me out of my sadness, but yes, that just irritated me more!
9) I guess I am being quite pessimistic right now, never wanting another pet. Sheila and Beau Bike Week Daytona 2010
8) I sense boredom is around the corner for me.
But wait, I’ve got a ton of pictures of you that I can share. And I found where I had made a Daily Puppy page for you years ago — HERE.
And, the author of a book I am editing offered me her sincere words of compassion when she emailed me:
“Your beautiful and precious dog will be by your side forever more.” Thank you my dear, Lela Starseed.
7) Will I ever feel content again? You used to make me feel content when you would lay on the couch with me! Beau fav place Aug2014
6) Will I ever feel hopeful again? I hope you are running, jumping, and playing in your Spirit ethereal body that is whole and new!!
  • On the day of your release, our new vet told me that you’d meet Lou-Lou again at the Rainbow Bridge (and we laughed for a moment, that you may not want to!) then I said, “Beau, look for your tall white dog friend!”
  •  A couple days later, I’m calling in my family who passed, to find you.
  • I remember when I was a child, other kids would say, “don’t have a pity party”, during times when I displayed sadness. I also know self pity can be self destructive. How can we balance all of these feelings, when Recovery groups tell us we must allow ourselves to “feel our feelings”?
  • I know I need to move out of, rise above, the feelings of sadness about Beau.
  •  I am hopeful that as, We Are All Connected, you have reconnected with my family who loved you too! Oh… this is how I can reach for hopeful feelings! This is hope!Beau 2008 so handsome
 5) Everything I have learned about ‘life after death’ tells me, ANYTHING is possible!
  • I can feel optimism for you when I visualize you with a big white dog!
  • Was it an English Setter that you fell so in love with?
  • I have been researching this, and asking others, because I am still trying to pull myself, consciously, up this list (to feel better)! 
    Beau back Aug 2014
4) I am attempting to reach for thoughts of positive expectation, to believe you live on – somewhere.
  • While visualizing you crossing over the Rainbow Bridge, I see you dancing for a big white dog!
  • Perhaps, you’re even frolicking!?!
  • I focus on the fact that you’re no longer suffering.
  • I know you’re out of pain. Beau 42613
3) Oh, how in the world can I be happy? How can I feel enthusiasm / eagerness again – about anything?
  • I know that “life goes on”. I don’t like it, so now, I’m back to #9.
  • I know the emotional guidance system is not linear. I will go up and down this ladder many times over – for as long as it takes.
  • I know you’re out of pain. Beau Christmas 2008
2) I know passion is out there. In my future.
  • I remember the passion I had when you first came into my life. How small you were!
  • I remember sweetly, what it felt like to nurture, train, feed, bathe, and care for you. Beau 2003
1) I know joy is out there. In my future, I will remember how much joy you brought me. Those memories will have to sustain me, because you’re no longer here! Sniff!!! Tear. I miss you so very much! But somehow, I will smile again when I think of you. Someday, I will smile and not get a tear in my eye. da beauster
  • Because I will ALWAYS appreciate having had you in my life.
  • Because I know how to empower myself, to reach for better feeling thoughts, via multiple emotional healing modalities – yes, even at the lowest of times.
  • Because I know you’re FREE! You’re experiencing FREEDOM. Oh, sweet ultimate freedom!
  • I am grateful, so beautifully grateful, to have experienced your love, and to have loved you!
  • Beau came to show me that Lou-Lou loved me unconditionally too, but in a different way. She just expressed unconditional love differently than him! Beau and Lou-Lou in the coach Dec 2010
  • Remembering the wonderful way my beautiful granddaughter would say, “Awe!” When I would lift Beau to the camera to say hello to her when we would Google Hangout or Skype. She would say that with such a compassionate voice, just like she knew how he was feeling, or just because as a child, she loves furry creatures. I don’t know, but it warms my heart to recall how she said it.
  • Talking with a friend and relating a memory about a time when we were walking and someone yelled at me to get Beau away from their grass, I looked up at the sky and exclaimed, “thank you Beau! I will never have to go through that again!”
  • All of this knowledge, it is helping me to feel better. And I am open to receive more knowledge.

UPDATE 25-Oct-2015: Just when I had begun, and I do mean “begun” to feel I’d worked through all of my feelings (figured out how to get all the way to number one on the emotional guidance scale… I slid right back down to #15 (at least) and started crying when my beautiful little four year old granddaughter asked to “see Beau” while we were on video conference tonight! Damn, where was my emotional balance that had begun to feel better? It all went to shit, and fast. I had to jump right back on here and read my list again!!

UPDATE 27-Oct-2015: My wonderfully supportive husband put a big picture of you (Beau) on our iMac desktop. When I sat down at the computer and touched it, lighting up the desktop to reveal your picture, I gasped, “Oh, Beau!” and then, “Oh, thank you hubby! What beautiful thing to do!” It was this close-up of Beau taken about six or seven years ago. He was in perfect health! But, I started to cry…

UPDATE 28-Oct-2015: I don’t know what happened. But, when I came home from work today (after having my Pilates workout), I signed onto the computer, saw Beau’s close-up picture and I smiled! Yes, finally! It’s been a week now after his passing and I can actually smile and think of GOOD memories when I see his picture. This is wonderful progress back to my normal emotionally balanced set point. We went to dinner also, and I was able to show the picture I took of the computer desktop, 1) to give my husband props for doing this, and 2) to show off Beau. He’s such a cutie. I was able to talk about him and not cry. I still miss him, and yes, I catch some emotion in my throat when I go to plug my phone in, near where his water bowl was, but I am letting go of the overwhelming emotions.

A week later I still cry when I look at his picture (not every time, but often). So, why? Because I miss him!
I still feel guilt about not doing more sooner to alleviate his infection / illness. (even guilt about perhaps I should have put him down sooner!)
I could allow myself to feel guilty about EVERYTHING to do with his ill health but, in reality, I know I tried. As my kids and I have discussed many times, we can only do the best we can about anything at any given time based on the information we understand at the time.
I must give myself a break.
UPDATE 1-Nov-2015: I updated this post with pictures of Beau. After meditating yesterday, doing a journeying process at Alania’s studio, I am, just this morning, able to go through all of the pictures and videos I have of Beau (and Lou-Lou) and find special ones to share — without crying. I am finally, now, at a point where I have some emotional balance about everything that happened. All of the good, the utter joy of having Beau in my life, and the not-so-good stressful times… during his ills.
I wrote a eulogy for Beau, a little at a time, during the ‘decision’ time. I shared it on Facebook then, but not here — until now. This is the link to it — HERE.
UPDATE 7-Nov-2015: My dad and mom have a mixed breed who had puppies three months ago. When we visited, my dad really wanted me to have one of the three puppies. I just couldn’t do it. Too many reasons. One, it was just too soon. And two, I still don’t know if I ever want another. But, I know it might be the last gift my parents are able to give me. Ugh! And yes, the puppies are oh, so cute! There is a black, brown, and reddish colored one – she’s the smallest. Adorable! Almost a Yorkie. Then a snow white one, a bit bigger. She’s also a girl. What a princess. All of their personalities are similar to Beau’s. Quite docile. Then a beige or light golden boy. He is the largest of the three, just a bit smaller than his mom and all three are three months old. How much bigger will they get? My son put an ad on Craig’s list. We sat there all afternoon meeting with would be “parents”. One young man took Princess home, bathed her, only to return her awhile later. His girlfriend did not agree in their having a second dog. But awhile later, she was adopted by another young couple. We were glad to be able to meet and visit with each adopting couple, so we knew they were going to good homes. The next morning, after I left, my son let me know the third, the golden boy, was also adopted by an older married couple. Ah! Because when I had left he was giving me those “eyes” like,
Why aren’t you taking me?” — that broke my heart.
At any rate, that day, I talked with my dad and he said the mommy, Sunday, was still crying and looking for her puppies. Had they waited too long to let the puppies go?
UPDATE 10-Nov-2015: Dad called me and was still upset about all the puppies being gone and said Sunday is still crying for them. I am at a loss except that I think perhaps I should send Sunday a nice stuffed animal to have. I also researched and found that when we (the people) are still upset, the dogs will pick up on our feelings and display similar emotions.
UPDATE 11-Nov-2015: I Google Hangout with my granddaughter and show her my two stuffed doggies that my husband bought me years ago, that resemble our Beau (and Lou-Lou). She seemed really happy that I had them, and she accepted my short story about Beau crossing the Rainbow bridge and being healthy and happy now. And that he had left us these “replicas” of them for us to remember them by. I still have my moments when I cry. But, I know that in the big scheme of things, that’s okay.
So, yes this has all definitely been a process. The goal was to be able to reach for any of the thoughts higher than #11 I guess, in order to be in a so-so kind of minimum good feeling place about Beau not being here anymore. Obviously, being at #1 or #2 all the time (about his not being here in the physical realm) was something, at that time, I never thought could happen. But, some of those thoughts, along with most of the thoughts being in the good feeling range, eventually helped me overcome the feeling of wanting to burst into tears when anyone asked about him, or when I would see another Shih-Tzu that looks like him, etc.
I have talked with others who have told me they still cry, years later, about the loss of their pet. And as an empath, I feel very deeply. I knew if I could figure out a way, or at least, “allow” myself the space to exist where I could attempt to feel better, it would help me, emotionally. Holding onto hurt, loss, guilt, grief, and all of those painful feelings can cause dis-ease in the body (which, I want to avoid if possible).

I hope others can benefit (at least a little bit) from my process. Love and many blessings to all (furry and human).

A bit about me:

An Amazon bestselling author of two co-authored books: “Transform Your Life Book 2 Inspirational Stories and Expert Advice,” “Energy of Receiving”, plus author of “Blue Eyes: Ethereal Messages of Connection,” and holistic health book that details how I naturally reversed asthma, “Have Yourself a Wholly Vibrant Life: Reversing Asthma and Other Chronic Illness Naturally” all available on Amazon.

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