Please find a quiet,
Comfortable space to rest.
You may want to bring a blanket or light a candle.
Allow yourself these next few minutes to simply be,
To breathe and to soften into the tender space of love and loss.
Take a slow breath in through your nose and gently exhale through your mouth.
Let your shoulders drop,
Let your jaw unclench.
Notice that you are here now in this moment and in this moment you are safe to feel whatever is true for you.
If tears come,
Let them.
If numbness is here,
Let that be here too.
There is no right way to grieve,
Only your way.
Let's take another deep breath in and out.
Gently bring to mind your dog,
That one special soul who chose you,
Who walked beside you,
Who trusted you with their whole being.
You didn't expect to say goodbye so soon.
It wasn't time,
You weren't ready and that's okay.
Let the truth settle gently.
You loved deeply and you still do.
Love doesn't vanish,
Love remains.
Breathe that in,
Love.
Though their body is no longer here,
Their essence,
The way they made you feel,
The warmth of their presence,
The quiet companionship,
None of that is truly gone.
You carry them now in the rhythm of your breath,
In the way your heart beats differently because of them.
Let yourself feel their nearness,
Not in the way you once knew,
But in a quieter way,
Like a memory blooming unexpectedly in the stillness.
Pause here,
Breathe.
If you would like,
Gently place a hand over your heart.
Whisper their name silently or aloud.
Let it echo softly in the quiet of your soul.
Know that whatever you were feeling,
Shock,
Sadness,
Guilt,
Longing,
It is all part of loving deeply.
You didn't do anything wrong.
You gave them a beautiful life.
You were their whole world.
And in their final moments,
They knew love,
They knew home,
They knew you.
Now,
Allow a memory to come,
A simple,
Joyful moment.
A wagging tail,
A funny bark,
A muddy paw,
A warm cuddle.
Let that moment rise and rest in your heart.
Hold it like a soft light,
Let it stay with you.
This pain is real,
But so is the love,
And love is the part that never dies.
So rest now,
Just for a moment,
In the knowing that they mattered,
That your love mattered,
That it still does.
Breathe deeply once more,
And on the exhale,
Release a little of the heaviness.
You don't have to let it all go,
Just a little.
With time,
The rawness softens.
With time,
The ache becomes memory.
With time,
Love becomes light.
When you are ready,
Gently bring yourself back to the room.
Wiggle your fingers,
Feel your feet.
Open your eyes softly,
If they were closed.
You are not alone.
You are still connected.
You are allowed to grieve,
Gently,
And in your own time.
Thank you for showing up today,
For your heart,
For your love,
For remembering.
They would be proud of you.
