Have you every thought; what would your dog or cat want you to do if they could speak?
What would it be? Would you work 12 hour days or spend hours in traffic, watching TV or shopping for things that you don’t need?
I invite you to close your eyes and imagine what would your next hour, next day or month look like. Where are you, what are you doing, who are you with?
When I sold my veterinary clinic, people thought it was crazy. Everyone around me was shocked and asked why I made such a sudden decision.
The answer is simple, I listened to the advice of my dog, Skai
For years, he reluctantly followed me to clinic door hoping that I would change my mind, turn around and play in the park instead. The truth was I had no time for play. I was burned out and felt like I was failing. I wanted to teach people how to keep their pets healthy and give them a good life and I could not find balance in my own life.
My dream was to reach more people, write, teach and engage in a community of likeminded people with desire to learn more about holistic care, disease prevention and how to save on vet bills. The problem was, I had no time.
One day, at then end of my 12 hour work shift, I turned to Skai lying under my desk and thought, “What would you, my dear friend, want me to do if anything was possible?
I closed my eyes and floated away into another world. There I was, inside of a pitch black box. I felt the fear and panic of not being able to find the door, trying to push the walls away as they were closing in on me. Suddenly the box collapsed and I was standing at the top of a huge waterfall. I was frozen with fear of falling into the depths below.
It felt like I stood there forever and finally rolled over the edge – giving up control. Splaaaashhhhh! I felt the cool water surrounding my body and trying to swim up to gasp for air. When I reached the surface and opened my eyes, I could only see light and the blue horizon. I felt so good.
“Peter, our computer system is down, can you come and look at it and the washing machine is leaking, Peter, there is someone calling with an emergency, Peter, can you sign this check, Peter, you have someone holding on the other line.. Peter! Peter! Peter!….”
I was clearly back in my box.
A few months later
My partner Dean and I decided to go for a brief holiday to Maui. It was the first time we were able to take Skai along to Hawaii as they had cancelled the Rabies quarantine and dogs were now allowed.
It was one of the best moments of my life - running with Skai on the beach.
Near the end of our trip, we decided to drive to Hana, a remote village on the North East end of Maui. We hiked through a very dense and lush bamboo forest until we reached a magnificent waterfall. I stood there at the bottom of waterfall with my arms spread, gasping for air as water rushed over my face. I didn’t even notice that Dean took a picture.
The next day, we boarded a Vancouver bound plane. I opened my laptop and started to browse through our pictures. There I was standing in the waterfall with Skai in the forefront, a big smile on his face…
Suddenly, it all connected, my moment in the clinic, the black box, the waterfall, the plunge… and the feeling of freedom ..
I turned to Dean and said: “ I am selling the clinic.”
2 years later:
I never imagined my life could be so good. I have opened a small housecall practice in Vancouver and have as many clients as I wish. I have almost finished my book on natural food, I write blogs and articles and love being part of the fast growing community of holistically oriented animal lovers.
My new company, Dr. Dobias’ Healing Solutions will be launching an all natural animal supplement line in a few months. I also find enough time to take Skai back to Maui and run and play with him on a wild empty stretch of our favorite beach.
Yes, there is life and challenges to deal with but every day I feel that I am heading in the right direction and feel grateful for the simple gifts of life.
Now when you have read this story, I ask you to go back to the original question.
What would your animal friend want you to do? Close your eyes, imagine and ay the answer out loud.
Congratulations, you have just accessed your own subconscious desire of the life you would love to live. Do not to throw this opportunity for change away. Go for it. Make it happen. Just don’t forget to take your animal friend along…
Dr. Peter Dobias
Tags: balance in life, cat speak, dog speak, dr. dobias, holistic animal care, living dream life, play with cats, play with dogs
Thank you for sharing this post! It’s good to see that you’re making things happen!
Well, I listen to my doggies all the time. I eat good food (when I am hungry), I take walks in lovely woods and marvel at the beauty of the earth, I nap when I feel like it and I show my love and devotion to those that show love and devotion to me. Does it get any better?
What a wonderful story. Taking the time to do what our animal friends would like us to do, brings us back to the reason we have them in our lives to begin with. They help us stay focused on the here and now, they don’t take anything for granted, they go out in any kind of weather, they always say ‘hello’ to those they meet along the way, they eat until they are full, they sleep when they are tired, they look out for those they love, they run, roll, jump, play and shout it out to the world, they love and love and love and then love some more! They are the mirror into which we all should take the time to look into! Your story helps bring all that back into perspective! Glad you listened to Skai and found your waterfall!
Hi Lisa, your comment is so beautiful. Thanks for taking the time and sharing your thoughts!!!
Play!
A good one, Lily
Hello Peter & Skai…Thank-you for sharing your life experiences with my dog Ceilidh and I…How refreshing it is to hear about the positive thing’s in LIFE, instead of the negative! Ceilidh’s favorite spot’s that I take her too are…Long Beach TOFINO and a lovely forest area on SaltSpring Island with happy trails for her to walk and PLAY!! Hug’s xxx…Lisa/Woof Woof.
There is nothing like freedom, and sharing it with your animal friend is even better. With the sun in my face the wind in my hair and the endless rain on my back I rejoice to have a roof over my head my dog companion in bed with me or rolling in the grass outside while watching her and reading my book – and the freedom to enjoy every moment of all this is like feeding to your soul with mush so it melts with sentimentality
I so appreciate a friend like you Roma, you and Gigi are such a great example of living your life to the fullest. Taking challenges as a way get better, happier and wiser. Love your comment!
Lisa, I love Tofino, I think the ocean just washes everything away, makes us more connected and dogs know it. That is why beaches are their favourite places.
Thank you for connecting and sharing!
You all sound so free, it’s absolutely wonderful! I’m afraid this is an opposite feedback
I feel stuck with the challenges being in the outskirts of Rome where I am living with my Weimaraner for the last 6 months. Impossible to continue the kind of raw food diet Junzi has had for the last 10 years. I have started to cook his meat with brown rice since two days when he became unwell with influenza (diagnosed by an orthodox vet, having failed to locate an homeopath vet so far); obliged to give him ‘Advantix’ drops in order to prevent fleas, ticks & mosquito bites which can be fatal; at the verge of considering to ‘do in Rome as the Romans do” since all efforts of providing the same life style to my dog when in Vancouver have not been possible. Junzi seems more subdued, very sweet and accommodating, but certainly not exuberant nor particularly happy. I will try to listen better.
Dear Pele, an honest comment is worth everything… Thank you! It takes courage and I feel like sending you at least a virtual hug.
This is exactly why we are building our community and try to support each other.
There is a key to almost everything. We all are challenged in different ways. There are many ways to look at the challenges and find the solution. I have always believed that homeopathy and energy healing is about creating a shift in awareness of why the Universe is bringing one person just a different version of the same. Believe me, I have had my share of this in my life. The shift started happening when I realized my bad fortune was just a reflection of my false beliefs that my life had to be hard and challenging. Being fortunate for many teachers, grateful for yoga, good food and being persistent, the shift started to happening a few years back. If I don’t like something, I either accept it or make a change. Some people go through many transitions in life, choosing a more challenging but potentially rewarding journey.
Thanks to understanding the connection between our dogs and us, we can learn with their help much faster and that is what I love about my new work. I love to see that many of my clients are making a great progress. I am here for you if you need me;-)
Peter
http://www.peterdobias.com/services
We are very happy for you and we are very happy you are part of our lives. Love Milada and Jasper
Thank you for showing us that we can be free!
I am also sending you a virtual hug! I love the dual downward facing dogs!! Thank you for writing another article, Peter, that brings tears of joy to my eyes… the tears are because I am so happy you are living your dream and also because I really get what you are saying. My dog Fargo provides a mirror for me every day as to whether I am living with balanced calm energy and purpose or not. I choose to listen to him and am grateful.
Katie, thank you! You are my teacher too! Life can be good when we listen to our dogs, that is for sure. In fact the whole world would be a much better places if we lived the way animals do. “You are acting like and animal” should and is a compliment these days..
A hug P.