4 tips for making life spectacular for older animals

**Are you struggling to adapt to living with a frosty face, older, wise animal friend?**
Here are 4 tips for making life spectacular for your animal friends who have made it across the magical threshold from youngster to wisdom keeper
*Plus, a truly magical tip from cat friend, Miss Kitty, on preventing embarrassing (and painful) constipation for older cats*

Hello Dear Intuitive One,

She is doing okay, but moments after I finished writing my last email to you about conversations with practically perfect animal friends, my dog friend, Whiskey had two strokes.

In a matter of seconds I went from having an older dog - to having a card-carrying member of the Old Wise Pet Club.

We're talking about the Velveteen Rabbit of clubs. The club whose admission includes worn elbows, creaky joints, lumps, bumps and a giant rite of passage that endows them with prophetic dreams, buckets of wisdom and a peek-a-boo view to the other side.

Making life spectacular for older animals

Critters in The Old Wise Pet Club tend to sleep a lot and I've heard from so many that these deep dreams give them the chance to experience living with a paw in each world.

They dream about their life with us,

They dream about visiting their animal (and human) friends who have passed and waiting for them on the other side,

And sometimes they dream about accessing the big, BIG picture Soulful stuff about who they were before they were born and where they are heading next — the kind of soulful stuff that turns them into a very special kind of visionary guru.

Whiskey's strokes have turned her into one of these visionary gurus.

Our chats throughout the day have gone from basic requests for cookies and where she prefers to go for our afternoon walk.... to her sharing profound insights about her life, advice for me and her wisdom for our remaining time together.

And I'm following her requests and bucket list items to the letter.

This girl LOVES giant happy greetings and has requested that when I pass by her sleeping in her favorite hallway sleeping spot, that I give her a greeting as though it’s been two lifetimes since we last connected.

When I do, her tail wags, she smiles and does her "I love you happy dance". And as a bonus it’s creating joy which helps us both stay present for the precious and magical moments we are lucky to have together.

1. Be present as possible with your pets

Anticipatory Grief is a real thing and it can pull us out of the present moment like nobody's business. And yet what I hear over and over from older animals is that what they want is for you to be there with them for every possible moment. Tell them about your grief so they understand you better and can help love you through it.

If you’re into mediations, check out this track I created to feel safe and centered by following this link to the free meditation Insight Timer

2. Ask your pets what's on their Bucket List

Most animals who have crossed the threshold into The Wise Old Pet Club have a deep sense of the preciousness of the time they have left and understand the importance of savoring it all. Give your animal friend the greatest gift of asking them what experiences they are wishing for like….

Enjoying a special meal from the "camping food bowl” that you used for backcountry hikes when they were young,

Bringing a gift to their favorite barista (you know the one, who always has the best cookies and greets them with a smile and pets?)

Or one last chance to dish out some powerful old animal wisdom and life advice to you and those they love.

3. Meet your pets where they are and cherish every freaking moment

Older animals do things differently than youngsters and they do them at their own pace and in their own way. It can be too easy to get caught up in what we think should be, or in our grief over what once was.

Give yourself permission to slow down with them. They’ll feel more connected with you and you’ll be able to be present to make the memories you’ll cherish forever.

4. Don't rely on generalizations about what you've heard older pets want and need

Your animal friend and the relationship you’ve cultivated together is unique. Let go of the myths and generalizations you’ve heard like, to not let them see you grieving or to not include them in discussions about their healthcare. Generalizations will only do you and your beloved animal a disservice.

I am 100% certain that your animal friend would prefer that you just have a proper and honest conversation with them and ask them what they want and don't want at this stage of their life. And when you do, have a notepad ready, because they are going to dish out some of the deep wisdom and profound insights that they have gained access to along with their welcome packet to The Old Wise Pet Club.

P.S. There is nothing like having a life changing conversation with your animal friend to help chase away the Late Winter Blues. If you’d like to set up a time to talk with your animal buddy about why they do that thing, or big soulful stuff, I’ve got you covered.

You can find a time to connect 1:1 and talk with your animal friends here connect with me here

Miss Kitty's magical solution for old cat constipation

Miss Kitty is one of those cats who just wont drink water. For years now she has turned her little pink nose up to tap, fountains, bottled, filtered and even rain water.

BUT... she loves the homemade chicken broth I make for her which is really just the water from the boiled chicken breast that I make for Whiskey. About a year ago she shared how jealous she was that Whiskey got vegetables in her dinner and she didn't... so I popped a few carrot slices and broccoli crowns into the broth and as soon as she had the chance she gobbled them up. At the time little did we know that her jealousy would also cure her constipation :)

“Joanna has a true gift. Our call with her was deeply moving and left us with a different dimension of understanding and appreciation of the energy and environment we create for our dog. It was profoundly useful for us as we learn how to give our dog a spectacular life.”

- Kate - Via Google Reviews