Catherine,
Thank-you for your resources on Saturday; I appreciated your generosity of spirit, and the possible opportunities in the future.
The philosophy fit, as I expressed in the evaluation. At times, I consciously thought “this woman can teach.” You can, and I suspect you are a natural. Your delivery is sincere and measured, and you use language that gives visual images to the student. You show and allow people to feel things, instead of just ‘telling’ how it is.
That may seem an odd remark, but when we are passionate about something, as you are about TTouch, it is tempting to use words such as “amazing, incredible, fantastic…” words that the listener can not put an image to. I teach Writing, and each year the lessons begin with “how does ‘nice’ look? How do we visualize ‘pretty’?”
I have been walking Muriel Rose using the balance leash, and she accepted the extra guidance immediately.
My other old dear dog, of fifteen, is tense in the belly. And yet, since Saturday, I have been trying the zigzag and tartula- pulling -the- plough, and she is seeking out touch. Before I tended to ruffle her fur and pat her gently, and she would move away within seconds.
Dogs are our soul mates here on earth: they comfort us, they accept us, and they love us. TTouch is one way of reciprocating in our relationship with them. To them we can offer comfort in language that is universal, the language of touch, of gesture, of being present with them. And that contact will stay in their body while we run around answering all the other calls in our life – gotta eat, gotta sleep, gotta do laundry.
TTouch should be one of our priorities because it builds a relationship of trust with our best friends.
Additional thoughts:
TTouch is what every dog and person needs to know to begin a trusting relationship.
TTouch would win the Doggie Nobel Peace Prize, but unfortunately, it does not exist.
I think it is the answer to many dog questions.
The first one: Why should I trust you? Is answered in the first demonstration.
The answer is “Because I care.”
What dog, indeed what sentient being, can refuse that?
Thanks, Catherine. Hope to see you again.
Patricia
(workshop participant)
