Two nights ago I was walking my dog and a neighbors German Shepherd bolted into the street and attacked my dog. My neighbor rushed out to stop his dog but the attack injured both he and I and my dog ended up in surgery and with a lot of stitches. My dog and I left the scene with my neighbor on his back in the street holding his dog. The violence and trama was intense but as we quickly headed home I felt an unusual calm and reflection. I was automatically it appeared watching my life movie and noticing my reactions and feelings even though I felt the adrenalin in my body. It seemed odd for me to be so detached in such an emotional moment.

I quickly knew I would need to meet my neighbor to resolve this issue. My frightened parts want to please and avoid conflict and I felt fear in my chest thinking about what our meeting could be. But I challenged those thoughts and reminded myself to living in the present moment and not in the future my fears wanted to project. I set an intention for reverence for life, his dog’s life, and for cooperation. Leah and I met our neighbor the next evening. He showed concern for our dogs recovery and agreed to our request that he put his dog in an intensive rehab program. Now for me it is important that I not become attached to the outcome. I am carefully watching my thoughts and energy centers. I think a 100% of the advice friends and other neighbors provided was fear based and filled with anger, threats, and punishment.

While I am very familiar with my conflict avoiding pleaser frightened part I feel my intention was to ask for a resolution that helped his dog and created a foundation of a loving relationship with a neighbor who like me has used poor judgement. It was not my intention to punish him. What he does next is his karma and what I do next is mine. My intention is to learn about myself through this.

As you read this what were you thinking and feeling about yourself?

With love,

Doug