July Issue 105
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“The only journey is the journey
within.” — Rainer Maria Rilke
You don’t have to look far to find a wide variety of
personal development books, programs, techniques, websites, podcasts and other
tools designed to help people improve their self-awareness, develop their
talents and potential, or move along the path of personal fulfillment.
Did you know that over $1 billion dollars is spent on
personal development every year and this number is growing at a rate of over 5%
a year? People are actively seeking ways to enrich their lives, reach their
goals, be happier, have better relationships, improve their businesses, and
achieve many other goals.
Having been a participant in personal development for over
20 years, I have learned (and benefited from) many, many different types of
personal development activities. I have attended training, enjoyed week-long
retreats, walked labyrinths, been coached and mentored, read books, spent
hundreds of hours in meaningful conversation and done many other activities to
attain greater self-awareness for myself and to share with others. And yet,
there are teachers all around us that we may not recognize. The first of these
is our pets.
Many of us have had or currently have pets; in particular,
I’m thinking of pets we can hold and interact with like dogs and cats, although
there are certainly other pets that are in-home personal development teachers
too. So how do pets teach us? Read on for just a few of the ways.
Pets teach us about unconditional love. They don’t care what
we wear, how much money we make, the colour of our hair, or anything else. They
are simply always happy to see us (even those independent cats want to spend
time with us, although it may be on ‘their’ terms!). And somehow, they seem to
know when we need a little extra loving and support, and they give it to us
without asking for anything in return.
Pets are perfect examples of receiving and asking for what
they want, something many of us have a difficult time doing. What generally
happens when you reach down to rub the belly of a dog or cat? They roll onto
their back as if to say, “Yup, give me some lovin’ and lots of it.” And when we
stop, they nuzzle us or just climb right up on top of us and ask for more.
They also are amazing examples of forgiveness. Have you ever
accidently stepped on a paw or forgotten to put food in their bowl? They do not
sulk and snarl and make your life miserable as they hold a grudge and seek ways
to have their revenge. Well, I did have a poodle once that if you were mean to
her then she would pee in your shoe but I actually found it to be quite funny
(maybe because she never peed in MY shoe).
Oh and my favourite lesson from our pets is their pure joy
of adventure. Have you ever seen a dog with his/her head out the window as the
vehicle speeds down the highway? Do you suppose it is hoping that a bug won’t
fly in its mouth? Nope, it is just enjoying the experience without worries or
wondering ‘what if’ (those are thoughts we humans experience in an effort to
play safe).
Pets are our teachers and they are our cheerleaders too. As
defined by Merriam-Webster, a cheerleader is someone who encourages others to
do something… and pets encourage us to be our best. They inspire personal
development.
US Statistics show that over 70% of the people involved in
the personal development industry are women. And while many women have pets,
they can also be inspired by other cheerleaders in their life. Cheerleaders who
unconditionally accept and support them. Who won’t hold a grudge. Who have
compassion for their challenges and celebrate their successes.
These human cheerleaders are friends, family and they can
also be found at Women Talk on the last Thursday of every month in Strathmore.
Women are invited to share their stories within this supportive community and
as a result, hearts are open to receiving and self-awareness occurs.
Regardless of what personal development activities you
participate in and whether your cheerleaders are furry four-legged friends or
people who want to support and encourage you, always be the best you can be and
find the joys in your personal journey.
For more
information about the monthly WOMEN TALK meeting in Strathmore, including how
you may participate by attending or being a Talker, please visit www.WomenTalk.ca/Strathmore.
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