Hello there and welcome to my 92 nd blog.
As most of you know, I absolutely adore My Girls, Lilah, and Bella. Lilah is twelve and a half ,and Bella is six, in human years. Lilah was born on the south coast of Kwa Zulu Natal and Bella was born in Gauteng. My girls live pretty amicably together, although it’s no secret, that there is definitely one who rules the roost. The Jackie, Lilah will very quickly put the lab/ridgeback, Bella, in her place with a deep growl and a scary look, should the need arise. Bella has huge anxiety issues and is on Prozac which helps keeps her mental health pretty much intact.
We also have Patches our tortoise shell cat, who stays upstairs. We love her dearly, but today we are chatting about Lilah and Bella.
This blog is about the personal life lessons I have learnt from my girls.
So, without further ado, let us proceed.
- They do not care what others think of them.
They will lift their leg at any time or in any place, do a poo in the middle of the path, and fall asleep at the most unlikely moments and in the most unusual places. They have no qualms about lying on the couch in company with their legs splayed in rather an unladylike fashion. That aside, I feel I need to care a little, but not too much, which can become rather a difficult balancing act.
- They practice mindfulness.
My girls live in the moment, and do this consistently, and animals have done this for years, long before mindfulness became trendy. Although they experience fear and anxiety at times, it is based on what is going on at any given moment and is quickly forgotten. I seem to be taking baby steps in the right direction with this.
- They rely on their instincts.
Even though sometimes they do not make the best decisions, like barking relentlessly at the Hadadas perched on a high branch of a tree, my girls seem to rely on their instincts to live their best lives. Trusting our gut feel is trusting the collection of all our subconscious experiences, which makes me think that this is the way to go, and worth striving towards.
- They are great listeners.
Lilah and Bella are so easy to talk to. They maintain eye contact throughout our chats, and they never interrupt me. They also do not judge me, even when I am ranting and raving, and possibly not being as charitable as I could be. They just seem to get me. Listening as my girls do, is an ongoing aim for me.
- They value their sleep.
My furry favourites realize the importance of getting the necessary amount of sleep, and rest as and when they need to, unashamedly, as mentioned above. This enables them to be their best during their waking hours. Quality sleep is a struggle for many of us, but it is well worth aspiring for, as I have so oft repeated.
- They play.
My girls just love to play, be it running after one another in our garden, playfully bantering or just chasing the afore mentioned Hadadas, with a success rate of zero, which is not a bad thing. They also have a penchant to play with the scatter cushions, turning around and around until they have found their sweet spot. They then lie down, much to our chagrin at times, as most of our cushions have been recently re-covered! They seem to know that play makes them happier and more content. Let’s get our play cap on.
- They are curious.
Lilah and Bella have a natural curiosity that seem to help them learn important life skills. They inhale their way through the woodpile, explore the shed and have a sniff at every bush, shrub, tree trunk or electrical pole on our walks, particularly Lilah. Sometimes a wee frustrating for me, but I do acquiesce, mostly. Being curious, without necessarily smelling everything, is a great habit to maintain!
- They forgive.
My furry favourites get bleak and upset when they see us studiously avoiding eye contact as we furiously pack suitcases to go away and leave them. They are also sad if they do not get to go on their much-loved walks. The amazing thing about them is the fact that we are forgiven the minute we step back into the house after a holiday, or the moment we take them on their next walk. They don’t bear a grudge or harbour resentment. For me, their ability to forgive and forget, is truly a wonderful thing, and this is a good reminder for us all.
- They remain positive.
My gorgeous girls seem to have a way of finding the good in most situations. Even when things are not going their way, like being locked inside, when the pool service comes or the irrigation guys are in the garden, having barked like blazes, they then settle and just chill. Once allowed outside again once said folk have departed, they are beyond, happy, and energized. The power of positivity goes a long way to help us live our best lives.
- They show unconditional love.
Lilah and Bella do not judge us or criticize us, even when we mess up or sometimes reprimand them. They love us flaws and all, forever and ever. We sometimes struggle to show this consistently, and it is well worth working on.
- They are selfless.
My girls seem to have devoted their entire lives to us. They are the best companions, are completely dedicated to us, and do not seem to have a selfish bone in their bodies. I believe we can all learn from this.
- They eat when they are hungry.
Now, I am well aware that there are many dogs out there who are very hoover-like, but my girls are not. Their food remains out , and they literally will snack through the day. I have to boast a little and say that they are also both in properly showroom condition. It’s about getting back in touch with our hunger hormones and heeding them, which for many of us is not an easy task.
- They are affectionate.
They rush up to us on our return home at any time of the day or night, no matter how many times we leave and come back, with wildly wagging tails and huge smiley faces always ready for a love and a stroke. They are always beyond happy to see me and always manage to lift my spirits, even on the most trying of days. They cuddle as close to me as possible whether I am sitting on the couch writing my blog or falling asleep on it whilst watching TV at night. Needless to say, our couches remain covered ninety percent of the time, as who on earth would not allow their pets onto a couch? I am affectionate but can definitely up my constant smiling game.
- They wake up happy.
Every single morning without fail, Lilah and Bella wake up chirpy and cheerful. They are never grumpy or cross . It is a glorious sight to behold, constantly and consistently. Very few of us can match this.
- They find excitement.
Let’s face it, the lives of our pets, if compared to ours, are not terribly exciting. However, Lilah and Bella manage to keep things interesting. The sprinting down the passage and the unbridled eagerness to get to us with jumps and yells at the mere utterance of the word “walkies’, never fails to amuse us. Whether it be barking often, trying to scare the birds, as mentioned above, or having fun together, they get excited often, in spite of the monotony of their lives. Let’s get excited!
16.They are our close companions.
In spite of the fact that dogs have a short lifespan, they manage to hold onto us throughout and are there for us all the time. Mine actually follow me. I have had many a moment since Muz passed that I have sat with my girls and had a good drizzle, and they just seem there to comfort me and make things better. They are my very dear and loyal friends, and loyalty really does rock.
17. They are thankful.
My girls seem to be grateful for so much, cuddles, treats, walks and their daily playtime in the garden. Even when they may have a challenge, the time that Lilah had to wear a cone, and Bella had to have some therapy, they rise to it, and remain thankful. They have this amazing knack of enjoying their journey. I am striving for daily gratitude.
I feel unbelievably lucky and beyond blessed to have my beautiful and awesome girls adding an enormous amount of abundance to my life, and the lives of my favourite men.
Just some ideas after a bit of reading and thinking.
I would absolutely love to hear all about the lessons that you have learnt from your furry children.
With thanks to Elizabeth Street, Osien Kuumar and Mirjam Mainland.
Wishing you all a wonderful rest of weekend and week.