If love had a shape,
It might look like the warmth of your pet curled up beside you,
The joyful way they greeted you,
Or the quiet comfort of their presence.
And even though they're no longer here in body,
The love that you shared will always be with you.
Let's take a moment to remember,
To feel,
To honor,
And to rest in that love.
Take some time to settle in to a comfortable position and feel free to listen while lying down because sometimes grief can make gravity feel so much heavier.
So allow yourself to curl up in bed or on the couch or anywhere that feels the most comfortable for you.
Close your eyes or leave your eyes open with a soft gaze in front of you.
Take a moment to notice where your body is making contact with the surface beneath you.
Feel the support holding you.
Take a slow,
Deep breath in and exhale,
Letting out a quiet sigh.
Again,
Breathe in more deeply.
And as you breathe out,
Imagine softening just a little more.
One more deep inhale.
And this time,
As you exhale,
Relax your shoulders,
Your jaw,
And let go of any other tension in your body.
Grief is a tender companion,
One that asks to be felt rather than pushed away.
Suppressing feelings of sadness can actually prolong grief.
So,
For this moment,
Give yourself permission to be here with whatever is without judgment.
A quote that's brought me comfort and that I've found myself sharing with others after a loss is by Jamie Anderson.
It goes,
Grief,
I've learned,
Is really just love.
It's all the love you want to give but cannot.
All of that unspent love gathers in the corners of your eyes,
The lump in your throat,
And in the hollow part of your chest.
Grief is just love with no place to go.
With this in mind,
Gently shift your focus to everything you love about your pet.
Picture your pet in your mind.
See them happy and healthy.
Notice their soft fur.
Their bright eyes.
The way they move.
The sound of their breath,
Their purr,
Or their bark.
Their unique presence.
And bring to mind a favorite memory with them.
A moment of warmth and connection.
Maybe the way they greeted you.
The feeling of their head resting on you.
How they curled up in their favorite spot.
Or that silly thing they would do that would always make you laugh.
Let yourself step into that memory as if it's happening right now.
Notice the way your pet's energy fills the space.
How effortlessly they offer comfort,
Joy,
And companionship.
Breathe in that memory,
Feeling the love all the way down to your bones.
And as you exhale,
Allow your heart to stay filled with the love that you shared.
And if tears are streaming down your face right now,
Let them fall as you let yourself feel that love that you have for your pet.
If you like,
You can picture your pet healthy,
Healed,
And whole.
And surrounded by a soft golden light.
A peaceful glow that embraces them,
Keeping them safe and warm.
If it feels right,
You can whisper a message to them in your heart.
Anything you'd like.
Or perhaps a simple thank you.
Thank you for loving me.
Thank you for supporting me.
Thank you for brightening my days and for being my best friend.
And in return,
You can imagine your pet sending you something back.
A feeling,
A sense of peace.
A quiet presence reminding you that your love and connection is forever.
And in the days and weeks ahead,
Stay open to gentle signs or quiet reminders of your pet's loving presence.
If you'd like,
You can silently or softly repeat the following words as a prayer.
My sweet pet,
You have been a faithful friend,
A constant presence in my life.
I will miss you forever.
I am so grateful for the time we had together and for our souls crossing paths in this lifetime.
May your spirit now run wild and free in a place of peace and light.
You will always be in my heart and I will always love you.
Take another deep breath in and as you exhale,
Allow yourself to rest in this quiet space of love.
I'll leave you with one final quote by Helen Keller.
What we have once enjoyed,
We can never lose.
All that we have loved deeply becomes a part of us.
Take one more deep breath in and on your exhale,
Start to bring movement back into your body.
Blink open your eyes whenever you're ready.
I'm sending you so much love.
I've been there many times before.
Be gentle with yourself.
Some people in your life might not understand what you're going through,
But there are more people in this world that do.
You're not alone.
If you ever feel like you could use some extra support,
There are many beautiful communities and resources available for those grieving the loss of a pet.
I hope this practice has brought you even a small moment of peace in this very difficult time.
Sending you a big hug and please take care.
