Present Moment Gratitude
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Write your dog a letter of gratitude, for everything they have brought into your life, everything they have taught you, and all the things you hope to experience together.
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Take a moment to read and reflect on this letter and all the emotions it might bring up in your body as a felt sense.
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A "felt sense" is a bodily-felt experience of a whole situation that exists before you can put it into words.
Gratitude for the Past
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Write a letter of gratitude to each of your past dogs, who are no longer with you.
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Take your time with each letter so you may process any unfinished emotions, grief, and longing.
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Focus on the felt sense each of these letters brings to your embodied experience.
Photo Collage
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Name three things you love about your dog and make a photo collage to celebrate these things.
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Frame this collage and hang it up! Or just tack it on a bulletin board or the fridge.
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Notice the feelings that arise when you look at this collage and think about your dog.
Appreciation
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Imagine your dog is at the end of their life with only a few days left.
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Write them a letter describing all the things you did together, places you explored, goals you accomplished, and lessons you learned.
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Cultivating appreciation for the short time your dog will be with you can open many emotional doors in the way you relate to your dog.