The power is in the stroke.
Sitting down and taking the time to be with your pet and just stroke them to feel the connection with a part of your own family can bring you comfort.
There are so many moments in life when we choose to do something but we are not present with our surroundings.
There are so many moments in life we want to do something but our mind says no,
Be for a moment,
Take a break.
Although sometimes taking that break becomes more of a question we don't know how to answer.
Somehow we know so clearly what to do,
Be,
When we are young.
The baby follow their inner being completely.
They are hungry,
They cry,
They are happy,
They laugh,
They are hurt,
They tell everyone.
It is all so natural and completely healthy and normal to be who we are.
As we get older we are influenced by the outside world without realizing it,
Our parents' vision,
How lovely and well intended.
Television,
School,
Social media,
Even if you think something is not valid or doesn't feel right,
When we read,
Hear,
Feel it,
Over and over we begin to adapt it.
We start to adjust ourselves to what we think is expected of us,
To be part of a group,
A community,
A family,
To fit in and not feel lonely for being different.
It is a pure survival instinct that kicks in and our lives have depended on it for centuries.
It is not something we do on purpose.
We even think that we are doing the right thing.
We are following guidance from one side,
The directions that seems to serve others.
We see what happens when we follow the rules,
The guidelines,
We do so well.
It seems that life is what it should be,
Life is what we expect of it and it's okay.
But then there is a moment when we realize it's not okay anymore,
Sometimes it is not even on a conscious level.
Many things can stop us from doing all the things we were planning.
The party is too noisy,
We have too many appointments on our schedule.
At work we are asked to be responsible for too many projects.
Your body is painful and your mind is rushing 100 miles an hour.
You want to say no but you hear say yes.
It sounds compelling because no one is feeling the pain in your stomach or your shoulders freezing up.
No one is listening to that soft little voice inside going no,
No,
No more.
Let's not go to this party,
Let's not go to another noisy family dinner where I'll be the only one cleaning up everything again.
Let's not go out for a drink too much to numb all my feeling.
Please let's go to sleep and rest.
Let's go and sit outside,
Cook healthy food.
Let's give our body,
Mind a rest this time around.
We have entirely forgotten how to slow down and just relax.
At some point in our lives we forget what it's like to feel and nurture our body and mind.
Everything is entirely out of control.
We have no idea what our problem is and we don't understand our emotions or even our thoughts.
So there is no space for anything that is ultimately ours.
We have adjusted everything that what is outside the world is having us eat up,
Literally and figuratively.
We have converted to what other tells us what we should feel,
Think,
Eat.
Our community and our environment have rewired us.
We have erased ourselves in a way and replaced it by an outside norm.
This is when you realise something has to change or when life pulls on the emergency brake by getting physically sick.
Your mind breaks down and stops functioning.
You know what I mean.
That point of no return,
The day that you run out of options and change is your only alternative.
Trying to adjust to the outside norm is not an option for you because you cannot keep it up.
You have given it all away and there is no reserve to take from,
To go not around.
The courage comes softly to you.
But with it comes support.
It comes in a way you probably don't realise at first,
As it's so different or because it feels in a weird way so familiar and comfortable.
The light starts to shine in a different direction.
The sun begins to warm you up and the noises outside invite you to follow them.
Nature is reaching out and offering you a hand to come and play.
The smell starts to show you that there are different choices you can make.
It all starts slowly and softly,
But it's a motion that is unstoppable.
You can start to pay attention to what is already in your life.
You are surprised by the enormous amount of love that already is.
Your fun loving dog is ready to play,
Sleep and point all the places you should come out and sniff.
Your cat is ready to show you exactly how to say no and to ignore all the non-essential things that you should definitely not care about.
While stroking your pets,
You realise that one stroke at a time you start to connect with yourself again.
One stroke at a time you find your footing still and make steps into a new journey.
One stroke at a time new people join you in your journey.
You connect with dear loved ones who see the benefits of helping you to be happy.
Your mind is slowly down and painful aches are leaving your body.
One stroke at a time you are taking back your life.
Thank you.
I've also created a beautiful meditation that goes with this.
So just have a look at my personal place.
Thank you.
