“Just A Dog” Richard Biby

Just a Dog

From time to time people tell me, "Lighten up, it's Just a dog" or "That's a lot of money for Just a dog." They don't understand the distance traveled, time spent, or costs involved for "Just a dog." Some of my proudest moments have come about with "Just a dog." Many hours have passed with my only company being "Just a dog" and not once have I felt slighted. Some of my saddest moments were brought about by "Just a dog" and in those days of darkness, the gentle touch of "Just a dog" provided comfort and purpose to overcome the day.

If you, too, think it's "Just a dog," you will probably understand phrases like "Just a friend" "Just a sunrise" or "Just a promise." "Just a dog" brings into my life the very essence of friendship, trust, and pure unbridled joy. "Just a dog" brings out the compassion and patience that makes me a better person. Because of "Just a dog" I will rise earlier, take longer walks and look longingly into the future.

For me and folks like me, it's not "Just a dog." It's an embodiment of all the hopes and dreams of the future, the fond memories of the past, and the pure joy of the moment. "Just a dog" brings out what's good in me and diverts my thoughts away from myself and the worries of the day.

I hope that some people can understand it's not

"Just a dog." It's the thing that gives me humanity and keeps me from being "Just a man or Just a woman." So...the next time you hear the phrase

"Just a dog," smile. Because, they "Just don't understand." Richard Biby 

Special thanks and shout out to my colleague Lorraine Senior*  who shared this poem with me prior to the ICR Conference in Anchorage in 2019 via a reading by Professor Noel Fitzgerald on FB. 

Thank you for reading.

Best,

Birgit Nagele, ARCB, TCTSY-F, she/her; Reflexology & Yoga (Focus: chair), Trauma-Informed Care 

🐾 One Minute Reflexology for Animals/ICRPaws

https://icr-reflexology.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/03/Paws.pdf

*https://www.functionalreflextherapy.co.uk/

Happy Birthday. The Frog is 15.

Happy Birthday 🐸, 

Has it really been fifteen years since I started the frog on the face blog?

Above all the blog has been good company, and it was great to embark on exploring Facial Reflexology: A Self Care Manual with H. Calisher, Rudi, and MG after discussing with MG. 

Sharing the most recent post

One Minute Reflexology for Animals/ICR Paws at the Cinema 🎦.

And here is the the very first one 

Encountering the "frog on the face" - Feeling Smitten and Energized 

Thank you for reading. 

To Peace as one of my friends ends many of her texts and emails with.

So much needed during these very challenging times, to keep it simple... not sure there are words, just sighs, and, and…

Birgit 

Birgit Nagele, ARCB, TCTSY-F, she/her

Reflexology & Yoga (Focus: chair)

Trauma-Informed Care 

🐾 One Minute Reflexology for Animals/ICRPaws

https://icr-reflexology.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/03/Paws.pdf

P.S.: 

Interestingly, while reflecting on what to write, my foot fell asleep and I resorted to Dien Cham and this morning during Ember's walk my right knee felt off and after resorting to "reflexing" the corner of mouth twice, it returned to normal. 

One Minute Reflexology for Animals/ICR Paws at the Cinema 🎦.



Sharing some really exciting and unexpected news!

One Minute Reflexology for Animals/ICR Paws, the “film” version* was part of the 10th NYC Short Film Showcase at New Plaza Cinema Nov. 22, 2024 at 7pm. 

- In gratitude to: Michael Jacobson and congratulations to all the participants.  

What a special way to share about our practice. 

• With gratitude to Marie-France Muller for Dien Cham/Vietnam-based, Raul Peñaranda for the Artwork, and Felip Alcon for the Animation. I-Movie created by: Birgit Nagele (that's me).  

This is a good time to do some shoutouts:

Thanks to all the doggies, kitties, other animal friends, human friends, reflexologists, TCTSY-Fs who have been part of this along the way at one point at home in New York, US, Norway, Canada, Belgium, Spain, South Africa, Portugal, Japan, Scotland, Iceland, Sweden, Israel, Denmark, New Zealand, Finland, France, India, Taiwan, Malta, Greece, Italy, Uruguay, Germany, Poland, and Austria. 

• Thank you, Liz and Sandra for joining me at New Plaza Cinema despite the heavy rain. 
• Special thanks to: Debbie, Max and Princess Heard (Pier 84 Dog Run), Shreya, mom to Gator Pack, ICR board (2017-2021),  Arve Fahlvik and Dorothea Kreidl (ARC and DR) for collaborations.
• Special thanks to Yuko Nonaka, Gina Stewart, and Kathy Demciuch.
• In Gratitude to our canine muses for their guidance and spunk: 🐾 Luigi, 🐾 Mowgli, 🐾 Ember, and their dad for reintroducing me to our best friends and co-parenting.

*Here is the link (please note, the film version also exists in German and French). 

Please, let me know if I have forgotten your country and I will add it. 
Please feel free to share about the practice with animal lovers (layman or reflexologists) who may be interested. 
Here is more information about milestones with more names. 

If you are in New York, check out New Plaza Cinema. 

Wishes for a world where we all can thrive humans and animals, 

Birgit and 🐾Ember

Birgit Nagele, ARCB, TCTSY-F

Reflexology and Yoga (focus:seated on chair) and Trauma-Informed Care