Lou-Lou and Beau, my “kids with fur”

About our fur babies

Preface: I’d been told that when you’re in recovery, it was a good thing to get a dog. I had no idea what I was in for, or what a huge commitment I was making! 🙂 Over the years, I was going to observe and learn a lot from my two doggies, “kids with fur”, or “fur babies.” Oh yes, a lot!

Receiving them into my life

I bought Beau from my cousin, while she was working as a long distance trucker. She also bred Shih-Tzu’s. Her mom and dad brought Beau to me (via a long drive on her mom’s lap) from WV to FL when Beau was only 6 weeks old.

I don’t recall if my cousin told me this, or it just seemed to me to be the case, but Beau must have been the runt of the litter. Always quiet and unassuming, he would let the other puppies walk all over him. At least that always proved to be the situation when we introduced him to our spirited and challenging female Shih-Tzu, Lou-Lou.

Lou-Lou was about a year old when a friend of mine convinced me she should have a playmate or mate as it were. I actually registered Beau with AKC under the name, “Lou-Lou’s Beau”.

Lou-Lou was the alpha of the two. They had two litters of puppies together when Beau was about 2 or 3 years old. My cousin told me to be careful that Beau didn’t hurt the puppies. But that never happened. Beau would help Lou-Lou keep all the puppies clean. He was the best dad!!

I had both Lou-Lou and Beau spayed and neutered after that second litter. Later we would come to learn that an accidental pregnancy (too soon after her first) would put severe strain on Lou-Lou’s health. She lived to 12 years of age, mostly because we ate an excellent raw diet and because she was so strong-willed. She had always experienced recurring bladder issues (which meant lots of trips to the vet for us), and finally succumbed due to a combination of complications from arthritis, infections, and more.

Conversely, Beau, has always been easy-going. He’s so polite in fact, he waits to be invited up on the couch! (Now I have to lift him up on the couch). Up until this year, he wouldn’t remain on the couch when I would get up for a few seconds to grab a drink or something! (I have to lift him from the couch to the floor now). He has never had an accident in the house, unless ill. He never barks. He never scratches anything. (Well, he did a couple times, no idea why). He never begs. Okay, maybe a little! He’s really just the perfect “man.” LOL

Lessons they taught me

Beau has taught me much about life, and continues to. He never sees a stranger. Beau is totally the social butterfly! 🙂 His eyesight has deteriorated now, so his behavior has changed some. He is more concerned with the smell of things than who is walking near us. But he used to make me a tad bit jealous, because he could just take off, go to anyone, and leave me behind without a second thought. In fact, I am quite sure of that. I am the one that superimposes my human ideas onto him.

Lessons my fur kids taught me

Beau introduced me to many of our neighbors, some even when they were outside (and did not have a dog)! He’d just go over as far as I would allow (on leash) and stand, until I acknowledged the neighbor, or admonished Beau that it was time for us to go home.

He’s more fond of adults than children but he’ll put up with kids petting him – though he gives me a look sometimes like, they’re not his type! LOL. Of course he’s always gentle. Only rarely does he come upon another dog that he doesn’t like. I always find that amusing and feel it must be a “vibe thing.”

Letting go

When we had to say good-bye to Lou-Lou December 2012, Beau never missed a beat. He didn’t display any sadness. Perhaps he knew it was just time. I think he’d really known much sooner than I that it was time for her to “move on” to another plane of existence. At any rate, he seemed relieved.

She had always shared food and they ate together well, but she had to get on the shared doggie bed first, get it all ruffled “just right”, before Beau could lay down. When I came home from work, she had to be on my lap first, get leashed for walking first, absorb the most of my time, and grab all the attention (she was a barker) with neighbors and other dogs when we walked. Many of our walks were stressful just because she would bark and carry on when other dogs walked by. I even took her to doggie training to try and curb her behavior. It worked – for awhile.

Now, all the focus is on Beau. And I promised Lou-Lou it would be – on our last trip to the veterinarian.

I had to fight many battles for her with different veterinarian’s over the years as her bladder issues reoccurred. I developed anxiety over even having to take her to the doctor. I had to learn it was never about me. It was always about her and I had to determine eventually that my intention was the same as the doctors we saw – to help her whatever we had to do. Granted everyone has to make money but for the most part, those who I had accused of just wanting to make more money from me, well, maybe they just didn’t know any other way to treat her than do many tests (eventually we did all the tests we could) but I struggled with that – a lot.

In the end sadly, to help her – when on top of everything her arthritis was too much for her to even allow me to gently bathe her – the best I could do for her was to make that final decision.

For a year, I had carried her up and down our steps for every walk because she couldn’t make it on her own. Now, I carry Beau as his eyesight is failing him. But thankfully he is pretty healthy otherwise – no arthritis.

Taking good care

My intention continues to be ensuring the best quality of health and life for Beau and I believe I’ve found the best healthcare providers to partner with me. Thank you so much Dr. Rumore and Lisa at Lake Seminole Animal Hospital. Your “petside” manner and love for animals is heartwarming and so very important.

A bit about me:

An Amazon bestselling author of two co-authored books: “Transform Your Life Book 2 Inspirational Stories and Expert Advice” and “Energy of Receiving”, available on Amazon.

Plus, my holistic health book that details how I naturally reversed asthma, Take It Upon Yourself to Live a Wholly Vibrant Life, is available now. Buy it here.

Be the best version of who you want to be.

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

Follow me on Twitter at: TakeOnYourself

Radio Frequency Analogy to Getting What We Want

radio

Do you have what you want?

Do you know what you want?

I’ve heard it said that most people really do not know what they want. Sure you may want to buy a new pair of shoes, or a piece of furniture, a car, a house, but what about after you have all of those “things”?

Write down 3 things you want. These can be small or large – I’ll encourage you by sharing 3 things I want:

  1. Peace on earth
  2. More time with loved ones
  3. A reason to wake up and be excited to go to “work” everyday = career passion

Now for the analogy. Let’s keep it simple – if you’re an electronics engineer feel free to email me and correct me but I’m trying to keep this elementary simplistic.

In order for you to turn your radio dial (for those old enough to think of a radio dial that way), or punch in the number to hear a favorite radio station, you really only need to know what frequency your station is transmitting on. In order for my radio to play the music I like I punch in the numbers 105.9 – inputting those numbers aligns the frequency (energy) to the radio station. I can move the numbers up or down just a tiny bit and all that does is make the station sound fuzzy – not so clear. To get the clearest sound I must be right on the numbers.

If I turn my radio on and don’t punch in any numbers all I hear is STATIC. And for me, that’s not a pleasant sound. So the radio frequency analogy to getting what I want out of life is this: Static is like living without intention or focus – sort of just hanging out in neutral without any direction.

There’s a tower somewhere broadcasting the signal on that frequency – and your radio station must be tuned EXACTLY to that frequency or it will not clearly RECEIVE the signal. The closer you are to the tower – the better reception. For example, if you’re in the country you won’t hear your radio station clearly, if at all. If you’re in the city, you will pick up a lot more clear radio stations along the dial – so you’ll even have more choices!

Perhaps it’s self evident that some amount of focus, of attention is needed to attain any desire. Whether you call it positive thinking or not – it does seem logical – the more you think about what you desire the closer you will be to achieving it. The more you surround yourself with those who are transmitting the “vibes” that put you into your good feeling place, the more likely you are to feel good. Think of the song, “Good Vibrations”. They were really tuned into this mindset when they wrote that song. Conversely, if you’re around people transmitting harsh or rude words, even if it’s just the tones of their voice, it won’t feel good to you. Remember that song, “Don’t bring me down”?

So here’s the deal. If talking to others about everything that’s going on in their lives energizes you, that’s the frequency you’ve tuned in to. And if that’s what you want – that’s good. If you want more drama in your life, complain about EVERYTHING. That’s a frequency also. The fun part to this is we all want different things and life means different things to each of us. Just ask yourself, “How is that working for you?” Do you have what you want, or not? Consider whether you need to adjust your frequency dial. Do things you want come easily into your experience or do they always feel they are somehow at arms length?

I have heard it said and seen many a bumper sticker: BE THE CHANGE YOU WISH TO SEE IN THE WORLD. To me, the radio frequency analogy illustrates this very well. Keep tuning into the frequency of what you want. Since I want peace on earth, I want to hang out with people who make me feel peaceful. I want to spend some time alone each day in thought, prayer, meditation – and walk my dogs. (smile) I believe that once my third desire manifests it will automatically fulfill the second one.

When I talk or write about deep things like, spirituality and living a naturally healthy life – I FEEL wonderful. I’ve never publicly talked about this before but when I’m having those conversations I actually feel a tingling vibration in my body (internal not on the skin) similar to goose bumps. It doesn’t last very long, perhaps less than a minute or two. I’ve asked several people what this means and have heard everything from, “it’s the angels communicating with you”, to “it’s the universe letting you know you’re on the right path”. I remain open to figuring it out and eager to understand it.

People always say when your work is something you love – it’s no longer “work”. People also say when you put passion and action together – the money will come.

What new frequency do you have to tune into to get what you want out of life?