It was raining a bit this morning when Lydia and I were in the dog field, and again this afternoon when I was working outside at the Buddhist Centre.
The rain was soft and gentle and wasn’t cold, although I made sure I was well wrapped up as well.
That’s what our Mum used to do – make sure we were ‘well wrapped up’, like presents. Scarves, gloves, socks, raincoats.
Our house was cold as we didn’t have central heating – only cold fires until gas fires came along. Somehow, though, she managed to warm our gloves before we put them on. And she knitted jumpers and cardigans using a knitting machine and job lots of dark green wool that she must have bought in the market.
Today I didn’t need gloves and I didn’t feel cold, although I was a bit damp by the end of the afternoon. A cup of strong hot cocoa and another soak in a hot bath – my second this week – soon sorted me out.
I’m hoping to sleep well tonight after my fresh air and exercise today.
Lydia is steadily finishing her tea and I’m hoping that she’ll sleep well tonight too. She got to chase a few trucks and vans as they passed by the dog field this morning, so we’ve both had a reasonable amount of fresh air and exercise today.
When I wake this morning I hear the sound of rain, and my thoughts go to the reminder that has come through the Buddhist teachings: welcome wholeheartedly whatever. I also think of RARE: recognise, address, reduce and eliminate delusional thoughts.
I’ve always liked the sound and feel of rain and generally been an all-weather girl, providing I’ve been wrapped up to face the elements or under cover to relish being cosy and dry. I have loved this long summer though, with the warm and sunny weather that we’ve had and thought I would miss it more than I am doing.
After a cup of tea, a recitation of the meditation prayers to myself (I don’t feel up to chanting them out loud at the moment, not when I’m on my own, anyway), and a meditation followed by the Liberating Prayer*, Lydia and I get ready to go out.
It’s a later start than usual, still damp outside and as we start our walk there is some very fine rain. Not enough to make me wish I’d worn a hood or anywhere near enough to persuade Lydia to wear her raincoat. She really doesn’t like to wear a raincoat and I only persist in getting her to wear one if it is particularly cold and icy. Today it is still warm and the rain holds off as we walk.
It’s quiet, with only a dog walker who I regularly see passing by in her van. I wave, Lydia starts to lunge, I ask her to sit, and she does. What a clever girl. She is doing so well.
Back home, after putting her bag of ‘poopie’ in the bin, I wash my hands and give Lydia her breakfast in her food ball. Before I have my breakfast, I put some dry washing away and put some more in the machine. It’s good to keep on top of housework and doing a bit at a time works for me. I’m not a domestic goddess but I do like a clean house, even if it’s not clean all over all the time. I do it on a sort of rota basis as I concentrate on other priorities. There’s a part of me that wishes I could be motivated to go round the house with a duster every day but I’m not.
Lydia tries to get me to give her some more food but I resist. I do, however, take a bag of cooked chicken pieces out of the freezer, to give her as a surprise treat later when they’re defrosted. For now, she’s lying just a couple of yards away, watching me type and looking very relaxed.
It’s just the two of us at the moment as Trev’s away visiting places in the UK that I don’t want to visit. It’s Corfe Castle for him today. For me it’s the Buddhist class tonight.
Quite where I would be if I hadn’t had access to these teachings, I don’t know, except that I think I do, and it wouldn’t be a good place. Thankfully, I am in a good place and I’ll keep working at it to keep it that way.
My thoughts turn to a friend who introduced me to Buddhism many years ago. He’s not in a good place at the moment so I hold him in my thoughts for a while and hope that he soon is.
The newly ploughed field that we walked around this morning. It used to be covered with dandelions. I wonder what will grow there next…
Continuing the story of Lydia and Me
Wonderful weather!
I do love the sunshine and warm weather, but it’s also good to appreciate other weathers too.
This morning, walking Lydia, there was a warmish wind and a few spots of summer rain. I love summer rain, the way it brings out all the earthy scents from the ground.
We had a longer walk than we’ve been having when it’s been hot.
I continue to ask Lydia to “sit” and “wait” before she gets out of the car. I think she doesn’t understand why she needs to do this – why would she? – but she’s starting to resist less. I rub her neck and ears and talk to her while we’re waiting, and think this helps. It’s all about rushing less and being more in the moment.
She has really taken to the “sit” and “wait” routine before we leave the house now, and I give her lots of praise as well as treats. When she makes a soft, gurgly noise from the back of her throat, I think I must be doing something right. She just sounds happy.
I did what I do to reassure her when we had cars passing by on two occasions. She didn’t lunge or bark but they weren’t particularly close either.
A man with two dogs who I am familiar with walked by on the other side of a drainage dyke. I don’t think she saw the dogs because of the height of the grass growing on the banks either side, but she did see the man and started to lunge. I did what I do, and she settled. I gave her some “rub-a-dub-dub” massages and we did a few repeats of the “watch” routine before we continued on.
Earlier, before we’d set off for our walk, she barked at a window cleaner working next door. I called out “here” and she did! Progress. Step by step, day by day. Progress.
Progress for me too. I am so enjoying writing this blog and engaging with interactions around the publishing of it.
I had a good sleep again last night. It may have been aided by the cheeky little gin and tonic I had, sitting outside in the not-so-warm weather. I also read a little – an autobiography which has a very sad central theme with many aspects that are essentially and vibrantly life affirming around that. Good to be reading again, as well as writing.
Train your dog; train your mind – positive reinforcement for humans and canines – now available in paperback: https://amzn.eu/d/eQ2sWjU.
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Glad About 
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