As if 2020 hasn’t been crazy enough, it managed to get even worse for me. I recently had to make one of the most difficult decisions I’ve ever had to make in my life. My dog Karma has been with me for the last 11 years, and we’ve been through thick and thin together. I rescued her from the pound, but I genuinely believe she saved me.
She was my constant companion through the most challenging times of my life, including an ugly divorce. Her health started declining rapidly, and I realized I must make that call. I knew I couldn’t let her get to the point of pain just so that I wouldn’t have to miss her. Letting our beloved pets cross the rainbow bridge is a very selfless act.
It’s one of the hardest things we must do for our furry friends. As their caretakers, we must do what’s best for them, no matter how much it hurts. I’ve lost family members before, and believe me when I say this loss hurt as much as those. I struggled for weeks after this dreadful day and didn’t know if or how I would ever move forward.
Speaking To A Psychic Was The Right Call
I decided it was an excellent time to get a psychic reading with one of my favorites from Psychic Source. Guidance and advice are what I needed, so I called him the next time he was available online. We talked for a while and had a meaningful, personal, and helpful conversation. I am so glad I reached out to him during my sadness and grief.
As much as my family sympathized with me, they couldn’t grasp the depths of my emotions as a psychic could. He felt my pain and anguish as if it were his own and helped me move forward from the loss. I feel better knowing my girl is in a better place waiting for me. Below are some tips and ideas to help you say goodbye to a pet that I learned from the reading:
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Gather Friends And Family For A Memorial Service
Holding a memorial service for your pet is a great way to say goodbye and get closure. Closure is necessary because it finalizes everything and truly allows the loss to sink in. Once it’s sunk in, you can acknowledge, accept, respect, and process it. Processing the loss lets you remember your pet with laughter and fondness instead of sadness and grief.
Before I received Karma’s ashes, a part of me was still in denial. I couldn’t accept that she was gone, and I didn’t want it to be true. I kept thinking that she’ll come running around the corner any second now. Thinking this kept me from moving forward and cherishing our good times together. Holding a memorial service for your pet with loved ones allows you to share the experience of celebrating their life.
You can share words about your pal and let others participate by recalling their memories or stories. Afterward, you can do something special to honor your pet. Some great ideas are donating to an animal shelter in your pet’s name, placing a customized plaque or stone in your yard, or planting a tree in your pet’s favorite spot.
Acknowledge And Understand Your Grief
As I mentioned briefly, acknowledging your sadness and allowing yourself to feel the pain is crucial to healing. If you are in denial or keep telling yourself that you shouldn’t feel sad, you’ll never be able to move forward healthily. You may think that once your pet has passed, there’s no point in feeling sad or crying for them, but this is far from true. Give yourself permission to feel the pain and ignore anyone who thinks you’re silly or tells you to stop being sad because “it was just an animal.”
I found that speaking to the psychic during this stage of my grief was incredibly helpful; he helped me let it out and understand that what I felt was perfectly normal and that I didn’t have to feel bad about it. Sometimes just talking about your pet and your loss to someone takes so much weight off your shoulders. You’re sharing them and putting their story into the universe. There are also support groups for grieving the loss of a pet, so this might be a good option if there is one in your area.
Journaling your feelings and memories is also very freeing and helps relieve some of the pain. Write down your emotions and how you feel that day in a journal. There’s no reason to keep it all inside; doing so isn’t good for you. You might consider speaking to a pet psychic to reach their spirit and ensure they are happy and pain-free. This will be my next move, so I’ll post about my experience!
Don’t Rush Yourself
Don’t let anyone tell you when to stop feeling sad about your loss. The grieving process has no set time frame; you can take all the necessary time. It would help if you allowed yourself to work through your feelings and loss at your own pace. Never feel like you’re “dragging it out” or hurting for too long, and force yourself to move on.
You’ll know when you’re ready, and until then, don’t listen to anyone who thinks you’re being dramatic or too emotional. Again, nobody understands the bond between you and your pet better than you, so don’t let anybody influence your grieving process. While your friends and family may wonder why you still have your pet’s collar and leash hung up, their toys in the living room, or their bed in full display, know that these things are perfectly normal.
My girl loved looking out the window while I worked; cleaning her nose prints off the glass took me a long time. I just knew I wasn’t ready and waited until I was. Even though I’m almost there, I still have Karma’s food bowl set out, and that will be my final step. You don’t have to explain yourself to anyone, and nobody expects you to hurry up and get over the loss of a family member; the same concept applies here.
Practice Calming Techniques
While you may want to take time off school or work following your loss, the day will inevitably come when you must return to your everyday life. I wish I could tell you to take all the time you need, but sometimes it’s impossible. The world is still turning; unfortunately, your bills and responsibilities won’t disappear. I know firsthand how hard it can be to work daily and act like nothing’s wrong while still grieving.
It was tough for me the first couple of weeks, but my psychic taught me how to start a calming practice. This practice helped me get through my work days calmly and professionally. Both meditation and breathwork help your body release tension, nerves, and anxieties you’re holding. Decide your calming practice, and make it a point to use it when you start feeling your grief set in.
Stretching or practicing seated yoga at your desk for a few minutes allows your emotions to move out of your body for the time being. Some people say a quick phrase or prayer when they feel themselves spiraling into sadness. I have now made it a point to spend an extra few minutes after my morning meditation to think about how blessed I was to have had Karma in my life for so long.
I follow that up with a quick stretch routine, giving me the power to conquer the day. At night I like to close my eyes and remember Karma in our happiest moments. It brings a smile and reminds me that I did the right thing by shielding her from pain. Our feelings need an outlet; if we don’t give them one at a convenient time, they could come out at the worst time possible.
Share Your Love With Shelter Pets
Volunteering at an animal shelter is a great way to help you move past your loss and help animals simultaneously. However, I don’t suggest doing this when your loss is fresh. You must ensure you are further along in your grief process. When you decide you’re ready to share your love of animals, volunteering at a shelter gets you out of the house, makes a difference in another animal’s life, and creates fun memories with other furry creatures.
Don’t feel like you’re “cheating” on your pet or that you’re replacing them. Animals are very selfless creatures that don’t have these feelings. They’d want to know that you’re helping other animals feel happiness. However, you don’t want to do this before you’ve had time to grieve because you might be tempted to bring one of those pets home.
While this may be a good option later, I suggest you hold off on doing so until some time has passed. Getting a new pet too soon can lead to unreasonable expectations and regret, and you also risk projecting your negative feelings onto the new pet, which isn’t fair to them. It’d be best to heal before making such a big commitment again. In the meantime, volunteering with shelter animals as often as you’d like helps you move forward healthily.
When you think you’re ready for a new pet, an online psychic from one of these reputable networks can help you decide which would be best for you. The idea that one day you’ll look back on your memories and laugh instead of cry might seem impossible, but trust me, you’ll get there. Don’t rush it, don’t feel bad about it, and don’t make any big decisions before you’re ready to.
Your Pet Loved You So Much And Wouldn’t Want You To Be Sad
They would want you to live your best life and be happy. They would never want to see you so sad when you gave them so much love and joy. If they could, I know they would be right there by your side to help dry your tears and comfort your soul. From the bottom of my heart, my deepest condolences if you’re experiencing this loss and heartache. Losing a pet is never easy, but the happiness they bring to our lives is worth it.
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