“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/

Meeting Abby aka Sally

I drafted the below about Abby seven years ago Sep. 1, 2015.I volunteered at a shelter in Brooklyn which my friend Lynn told me about, but did not share details about it then. Abby found a loving forever home, was renamed Sally, had furry and human siblings, and died a few years ago.   In retrospect what I learned is this: Abby’s behavior towards me changed within the very short period of me engaging with her in one afternoon. 

“Abby found a home.  Could not stop thinking of her these last few weeks; our encounter left me with a sore/strained middle finger because she was so anxious outside the kennel and my walk lasted only a minute.  I was hoping I could do some relaxation work on her,  but she immediately pulled me to a building and pooped.  When I tried to pick it up, I struggled to hold on, my glass water bottle fell out of my back pack and rolled across the sidewalk towards the trash can, miraculously it did not shatter; what a sight!  I was so worried that she would take off and run into traffic.  Fortunately, someone helped me and we walked her together.  

She only seemed to feel safe in her kennel.  After I walked three other dogs which I managed to help relax when they got anxious or started pulling, I returned to see Abby.  After the second or third time she was getting a bit closer and I could actually touch her paw through the crate.  I was seriously considering fostering her.   

On Tuesday, I wanted to go back to the shelter with a friend, but found out via Instagram that she found a home!!  But I continue to think of her.  It is not just because of my middle finger, but because she touched me in a huge way.  I heard in the meantime from her owner that she is getting friendly with the cat...-“

Thank you for reading,

Abby 3 

Abby 

Abby 

B.

Birgit Nagele, NBCR, TCTSY-F

https://www.linkedin.com/in/birgitnagele/

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.