Transcendence in Suffering...Sitting quietly in reflection as the rain falls as heavily as my tears 13 years ago today when my sweet Cecilia died, I can’t help but to reflect on the many ways in which that experience has informed my life - both personal and professional. I knew in that moment she died, life as I had known it would be different and all that we shared together would be encapsulated in a single moment in time - perhaps in a single tear drop. Finding a way to man

The following in an excerpt from my recently published book, "Beyond the Horizon: A Remembrance Journal for Healing the Loss of a Pet". Below are stages of grief commonly experienced after the death of a companion animal. It is important to note that the grieving process does not always occur in a linear or predictable fashion and everyone will process through the loss in their own way and in their own time. These four stages were predominate themes underscored in my scholarl

Dogs, by their very nature, remind us of a fundamental wisdom which often times eludes us. Dogs are masters in the kingdom of now, being fully present to the here and now of each moment, the dog knows only the present and offers itself to it without reserve. It is within these moments reflected to us by our canine companions that we can see with new perspective the natural beauty and wisdom of the world around us and appreciate our connection to it. If our eyes are open, they