Heeling & Healing
Choosing to walk alongside
A bit of wisdom gleaned from Arty
Now there’s a thought . . .
To understand what it means for Arty to “heel” can actually help us understand how best to help others “heal”. How in the world are these two connected? Heeling means having your dog walk quietly by your side, choosing to be with you. Healing is to make well again, to restore health. Interestingly, they are connected. Read on to understand how Arty choosing to be by my side and healing the hurts of life are connected.
Whether we are playing hard
— or doing nothing at all —
simply being with you means
everything.
“Simply being with you means everything.” Arty, by consistent use of positive reinforcement - tasty treats & lots of praise— has learned to heel. He not only gets treats and praise, he also gains the confidence to follow me wherever I go. He is comfortable by my side, trusts me enough to run ahead a little, but consistently returns to me, choosing to walk alongside.
CHOOSING TO WALK ALONGSIDE.
“Choosing to walk alongside”- isn’t that a pleasant thought? When times are tough, when people are unkind, when things are just not going well, maybe what we need is someone to walk alongside. This is especially true when emotionally charged conversations make engaging with one another difficult. Maybe your feelings were hurt, or you hurt someone else. Healing can take place simply by accepting others “as is”, no judgements, being a friend who is listening and is present. After all, sometimes the need for that friend is just as important as the willingness to be one.
Heeling well takes lots of time and practice for both dog and owner. Arty needed to learn to trust me and understand what I was asking. Once learned, it makes for a quite enjoyable stroll through a forest, or down the sidewalks of downtown. Sometimes Arty needs me to be his walking companion, and sometimes I need him to be mine. This dynamic of trust and patience is just as crucial when our friends are hurting. Indeed, sometimes it’s hardest for us to simply be present with them - and be silent. Listening. Observing. Yet, to be present is a profound gift.
So next time you are out and about, pause to observe a happy dog walk. Notice the simple, quiet ease of a companion like my Arty trotting happily at my side. Feels good, doesn’t it? That feeling of shared, relaxed presence is what we can offer others. Be the person who simply walks alongside someone to help them heal. You don't need to fix, advise, or even talk. A quiet presence is enough; it gives a person the safe space they need to begin. And if you need that connection yourself, reach out.
Take it from Arty ~
Heeling and Healing are intertwined, indeed.
