We sat in the glorious afternoon sunshine at a sidewalk table outside Chipotle, my lovely German Sheperd puppy and I. Izzy had her usual bowl of rice and pork. I sipped a Margarita with my tacos.
Izzy’s beautiful kind eyes and inquisitive puppy face draw people in–anyone who has ever been “owned” by a German Sheperd wants to meet her. She is adorable.
A woman stopped to greet us and we fell into conversation. She has a Sheperd very much like Izzy.
We connected as we shared the deep joy our dogs bring us. The comfort and sense of safety.
Our dogs came into our lives as we faced the aftermath of violation and trauma.
We created a beautiful moment of connection and healing, trusting our stories to the safe container of shared experience, empathy, and non-judgment.
Our human brains are hard-wired to connect with others. And yet, so often in our hectic lives, we neither listen, nor are we heard. We don’t truly see each other. We rush through our days defended and defensive, judging and being judged. Our hearts closed.
We all want to be heard, to be accepted for who we are. And yet, to be heard, we also need to listen. To quietly offer our Presence without trying to advise, judge, or fix the other person.
I am challenging myself to cultivate better habits of listening, to open my heart more and more. To become more Present. Will you join me?
XOXO,
Mara Rose
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