Lessons Learned from my Cherished Friend.

When the opportunity for healing arrives in the most beautiful way...

This is my first ever Substack post and it’s about loss. I’m not sure if that’s a good idea or not, but hey I’m going with it.

Just over a week ago we said goodbye to our Zeusy boy.

Zeus was a one-of-a-kind dog. I guess everyone thinks that about their pets, but Zeus really was.  We became his forever family when he was seven months old.  My friend Sheree, had his brother Rango, who was an adorable black puppy. She mentioned that Rango’s brothers still needed homes.  I decided to go and have a look. 

There were three pups left. Zeus was the timid one and I could see that he needed love.  Thankfully this story is better than the one where I chose a guy who I could see needed love.  That was a train wreck from the beginning.

After connecting with this shy little guy, I left knowing I was going to be taking Zeus home. I just had to talk Andy into it.  Obviously, I got my way.

When Zeus arrived at our home, we realised very quickly that he was petrified of men, which didn’t bode well for Andy.  He was also scared of balloons and boxes. 

We began to learn about his past and it’s wasn’t a nice one. He had been neglected as a pup.

When we noticed he had some traits that needed to be looked at, we hired a trainer.  It was obvious quite quickly, that the tools and strategies we were taught, were more for Andy and I rather than for Zeus.

When the trainer said that I needed to be in charge and be confident with Zeus around people, I knew instantly that I wasn’t only doing this for Zeus, I was doing it for myself too.

You see, previous to my life with Andy and after leaving my children’s father, I dated a horrible guy.  That relationship knocked me about a lot and when I finally got out of it, I didn’t feel safe around many men. (I’ll be talking about this in another post) I found it hard to make eye contact, hold conversations and I’d avoid them if I could.

There was absolutely no coincidence, that Zeus held the same fear.  To both of us, most men were unsafe.

As we began to use the strategies the trainer recommended, Zeus and I began to heal. We both grew more confident and felt more at peace around men.

Andy also learned life lessons from Zeus. He had to be patient and give Zeus the time and space to be comfortable and trust him. Together they grew a gorgeous bond, where Zeus would come into our room in the morning and go straight to Andy’s side of the bed for snuggles.  He’d then grab Andy’s socks and take them upstairs for him.

He loved our mokopuna (grandchildren) and was even happier when they were around.

Over the last few years Zeus had struggled with arthritis, we’d seen natural healers, vets, changed his diet and used meds, however this year he began to slow down more and more.  We knew his time was coming to an end and we also knew this wasn’t about us.  Zeus had given so much to us and now we had to do the right thing for Zeus. We knew in our hearts it was his time to go.  

The weekend prior to him leaving us, all his special people visited and then on Monday the vet came to put him to sleep.  It was such a peaceful way to go.  We told him how much we loved him and stoked his velvety ears and thick, soft coat and off he went on his next adventure.

 I honestly can’t believe he’s gone.  He was my best buddy, always looking out for me and so, so loyal.

Zeus is the god of the sky in ancient Greek mythology. As the chief Greek deity, Zeus is considered the ruler, protector, and father of all gods and humans.

I couldn’t agree more. As Zeus healed he became such a beautiful male energy. Loyal, gentle, and protective of his loved ones.

Zeus taught me a lot about life and about healing. His unconditional love will be forever in our hearts.

He is a great reminder that every relationship we encounter whether it’s with a human or animal can teach us so much. From our gorgeous pets, to the people we love dearly, to those that trigger us. And then there’s the ones like Zeus, who mirror a part in us that needs our love and attention.  

There was no coincidence that I chose a dog that taught me how to heal my wounds around men. Are there people in your life that are here to teach you something right now?  To help you heal a part of yourself that’s been wounded.

I encourage you to take up the opportunities and do the work. You’ll gain so much from the experience x