I have always held a very special affinity for animals. Being raised on a farm gave me a unique opportunity for exposure to all sorts of animals from a very young age. I can remember being just old enough to climb the ladder into the loft of the barn to seek out the little kittens I could hear meowing from below. I would find the nest their momma cat had made in the straw bales and spend all day petting, holding, and cuddling each little precious creature before their eyes had even opened. Bottle feeding calves was another amazing and cherished activity that made my heart leap as a kid. Nothing compared to being able to feed a baby animal that was already bigger than I was at their birth. An extra special moment was when the calf would head bunt the bottle in attempt to get more milk. This simple innate act always made me giggle. Then there were the baby chicks each spring. I can still remember the smell of the fresh wood chips in the cardboard oval we would set up to keep them corralled under the heat lamps. The simple bliss of perfection in these feathered baby creatures excited me once every year when we would bring them home. My window of opportunity was short with these tiny little friends because once they lost their yellow baby feathers they were no longer cute and cuddly. The fibers of my being were made to nurture, and to nurture an animal has always been incredibly rewarding.
This week brought many changes into my world of animal nurturing. For those of you who are not dog or pet friendly, hang in there. I will bring this full circle to love, fear, choices, and perspective. Last May I lost my dog, Ike, after having shared over ten years of my life with him. He was completely in sync with me: he knew when I needed comfort, he knew when I needed space, he would lick my tears away when I was upset, and he would make me laugh daily. 
Rarely did I ever have to discipline him because the tone of which I said his name would elicit the necessary response for him to correct his behavior. The bond we had formed over the years and the unconditional love he gave me was a connection I had not yet experienced in this life. Losing him left a huge void, but immediately when he was gone I acknowledged that all of the love and experiences over the years were well worth the hurt at the end. I’m sure this is something everyone can relate to whether it be the loss of a relationship, a family member, the unexpected loss of a job, or some other devastating loss in your life. Those impacting experiences shape and mold us.
Somehow with time my perspective of gratitude faded and I was shaped by a fearful and lacking spirit. I became more focused on how much the end hurt and questioned whether I really ever wanted to put myself through that again. I stopped recalling all of the funny things Ike had done, the lessons he had taught me, and
the joy he had added to my life. I was living from a perspective of self-preservation rather than from a place of expansion and love. I struggled to open my heart to adopting another dog because I wanted to avoid any heartache. Recently, through the assistance of a fostering experience, I realized the only way to love openly and to have unconditional love returned to me, was to love bravely and without fear; to love with faith of the glory that will be the journey and not the hurt that will be the end. Fostering Kholey helped me to embrace the funny moments, the daily exchanges of love and life, and to realize the journey was far more rewarding than an end we are all destined to have. With this realization came the courage to make the choice to open my heart and my home to a new furry friend leading me to adopt a 17 month old boxer beauty. I can only imagine the adventures that will be had with Kivah over her lifetime, and I am beyond excited to begin this journey and build this bond with her.
If there are areas of your life where you are living from a mindset of self-preservation and protection I hope you will find courage to step out in faith to gain all that can be had from taking a leap of faith. Whether it’s starting a new relationship, healing an old relationship, setting out to achieve a goal you’ve forever told yourself you’d never be able to do, or chasing your dream job– remain focused on all your life will expand by taking the risk and going for it. Be a victor rather than a victim of life.
In closing, I vow to live with a grateful spirit inspired by the wise advice as shared by Winnie the Pooh. I hope you will join me. Thanks for stopping by!
Peace & Love
Janessa