She was a beautiful characterful golden retriever, who brought us joy and companionship, and made us smile. She  played a big part in our family life all those years,  accompanying us on many adventures large and small. Although she couldn't bound into the back of the car with the same enthusiasm and energy she had when younger, she never lost her sense of excitement at the prospect of any  adventure- and always trusted implicitly that one was indeed waiting for her at the end of the ride!

We miss her unconditional acceptance and tolerance. Her greeting as we come home through the front door, or presence when we come downstairs in the morning. Her uncanny ability to seek out some body of water to play and paddle in. The regular daily walks, whatever the weather. A long country walk still seems a bit wasteful without a dog!

Any loss in our lives reminds us that the loss, with its associated grief, is a process rather than an event. That life throws negative events our way: indeed, even the things we value most in life (and see as positive) come with both pleasant and unpleasant feelings, the negative as well as the positive. That life can change from one day to the next.

Thinking about our two family pets, many fond memories come to mind. Of course, dogs and cats are not the same : as either a dog or a cat owner, you can expect a very different experience!       (maybe cat "owner" could be a misnomer?) I believe it was Winston Churchill who said:                                                       ~"Dogs look up to us. Cats look down on us"!

But, differences aside, I would like to share the parallels I see- some common valuable life lessons from Toddy the cat and Ceilidh the dog.
They are actually quite simple reminders:

• Words are not always necessary to communicate.  We don't always have to bark or growl loudly: an affectionate rub, gentle purr (or occasional hiss) can also get the desired effect... Find your own voice. Trust your gut instinct and have the courage to take a stand when things don't feel right.
• Appreciate the small things in life. Make the most of what you've got and what's available. Whether that's curling up on a sunny window sill behind glass when warmth from the sun is limited, and satisfying your hunting instinct by chasing some leaves blowing in the wind... or wagging your doggy tail to share your excitement, and rolling in a delicious pile of grass cuttings when there's nothing else around that's smelly enough.
• Be yourself. And love and accept others for who they are.                                               If you're a tabby cat, be a tabby cat without trying to be a golden retriever. Each of us has our own personalities. Know what talents and gifts you bring to the world. Celebrate them and build on your strengths. Find your own place in your world.
• Practice self care. Whether it's licking and wiping whiskers to remove the last traces of cat food, or nibbling out the pieces of dried up mud matted between a dog paw, our furry companions can teach us about self care and loving our bodies. If we take care of ourselves first, we are better able to be there for others (yes, just like in those airline safety life jacket instructions). And no need to feel guilty about rolling over and asking for a belly rub/ tummy tickle when you need one!
• Make time to play and have fun... whether chasing that elusive ping-pong ball, or throwing yourself wholeheartedly into a roll in the mud puddle.
• Don't let things come between you and your sleep. Many of us are actually sleep deprived. Research shows us how VITAL sleep is for both mental and physical wellbeing. 

  curiosity didn't kill THIS cat!

  Not getting enough sleep ultimately puts us at increased risk of problems such as diabetes, cardiovascular disease, weakened immune systems, accidents... Great reasons to be more like Pooch and Kitty and get the sleep you need.
• Nothing is permanent. Live in - and enjoy- the moment.                                                                                                                   Live like you're on your ninth feline life!

With thanks to Toddy and Ceilidh...                                                                       for ALL the lessons they taught us, in their own unique ways.