Rescue Dogs & The Inner Child.
A friend posted a video on the socials this morning and it made me bawl my eyes out (before my day had even started!) I “should” know better than to look at my phone before getting out of bed … but that’s another story .
The video was a time lapse of a dog in an animal shelter “waiting to be rescued.” It showed the dog standing and wagging his tail excitedly each & every time a human walked past his glass fronted enclosure.
Thing is … people kept walking past, one after another, after another …. but no one stopped to witness just how excited he was to see them. No one was present long enough to experience the abundance of love he was giving out.
Through my snot & tears I fast forwarded the video - ‘coz god damn it - I needed to see a happy ending.
… But no one stopped to rescue him!
(I guess that’s the shelter’s way of ‘inspiring’ people to rescue dogs.)
I switched off my phone & lay in bed (ironically with my head resting on my own dog) & let the tears stream down my face as I felt all the feels for that bloody beautiful dog!
I let myself feel it to the depths until I had a realisation …
‘Wait on’ …
‘This feels a lil’ deeper than the beautiful dog in the video.
… When in my life have I felt like that dog?’
I held my hand on my heart & explored…
Sure enough the sadness & “grief” I was feeling for the dog had knocked the top off an old wound from waaaaaay back in childhood to reveal yet another layer to feel & heal… (amazing how life works hey!?)
So I allowed myself to feel a particular moment in time, when (in my “childhood innocence”) I wanted more than anything to be witnessed & acknowledged for the love I was pouring out and for someone to SEE that what I really needed & ‘deserved’ was some love (& support) to be pouring IN.
… But no one ever “rescued” me from that moment in my childhood …
And believe it or not … I’m grateful!
That particular moment in time has contributed in a massive way to my values, my soul’s evolution & the way I’m in service to others. I value presence and the power of witnessing, I value inner-child healing, I value the soul journey and the power of humans finding treasures in their challenges.
I value the innocence of children and the inner sense of adults!
I value open hearts and LOVE! I value feeling deeply! … Not in spite of that moment but because of it!
I view that “micro moment” in time as a soul contract that has shaped my life & has undoubtedly benefited others whom I’ve “served” along the way …
But that doesn’t take away from the fact that there’s obviously still layers to be felt…
So today I get to grieve for the the little girl who so deeply needed to be witnessed, “rescued” (from her pain & confusion) and have some love pouring IN.
And as an adult… I now get to witness her, acknowledge her, love her …. and let her know it’s safe to speak up when something doesn’t feel right & it’s safe to ask for what she needs … I get to remind her she doesn’t need to make herself invisible during challenging times …
Because of that moment in time … I’m learning to be loving AND discerning … I’m learning to speak up to honour my soul, ‘Coz I KNOW when I show up in “tough” moments it can change the trajectory of life - not just for myself but for past, present & future generations.
I KNOW the moment I keep quiet about something I FEEL deeply about, is the moment I abandon myself.
Just like that bloody beautiful dog in the video, I figure I may as well keep showing up WITH all my inner sense … ‘Coz an open heart feels better than a closed one … right?
… Gratitude for the soul journey - the journey of self-love! … Gratitude for those I have the absolute honour of witnessing & loving … and gratitude for those people in my life who “see” me … and love me!
Well played Doggo, well played! xo
PS/ I did my research (after writing this blog post) … and the dog in the video has now been adopted!
Seeking a lil’ support for your own journey?
If any of what you’ve just read resonates and you’d like to explore your own inner child journey … You can learn more about our Inner Child Healing Sessions HERE.
And if you have a “sensitive” / empathic child - You can learn more about Support For Sensitive Kids HERE and our KIds Group - Play & Nature Therapy HERE.
* … And of course … If you do feel the call to rescue a pet please chat with your local vet or animal shelter to learn more.