Dear Thomas:

Thank you for the advice in regard to Bogart, it’s a wise advice. Actually, it’s wise to apply it with people as well.

Elaborating on it, the scientific term for it is Emotional Contagion. It means one individual’s emotional state automatically triggers a similar state in another without conscious intention, and without verbal communication

Humans do it. Dogs do it. Even babies do it. It’s the most basic form of empathy.

There are such things as Mirror Neurons: if someone looks tense, the other person’s mirror neurons simulate that tension. If someone is relaxed, the other person mirrors that too. Dogs have a similar system, which is why they’re so attuned to human emotions.

People and dogs pick up on micro‑expressions, muscle tension, breathing rate, posture, eye movements, tone of voice and scent changes (dogs smell stress hormones, so I am reading).

🙏 🤍 Anita

I came back from the taproom, Alessa, was there with Bogart. There were other dogs 🐕 there, one was a bit aggressive toward Bogart 😔 , another (a healer) got along very well with Bogart.

I am concerned because Bogart is scheduled for a surgery this Tuesday, getting neutered. I understand it’s necessary because otherwise.. well, I don’t even want to think about it. He’s only a toddler now.

I’d have to leave him at the vet at 7:30 am for the whole afternoon and pick him up after the surgery.. Will he be okay???

I am beside myself right now. Any advice, Alessa?

😢 Anita

Dear Alessa:

You are very welcome and thank you 🙏✨😊

Alessa the librarian- for some reason it makes me smile affectionately 🤍✨😊

You put your best into everything, Alessa. I admire that about you. 🙌 ✨

About money and anything else that makes me anxious- I avoid, postpone and I take it one day at a time, literally. I also repeat to myself every day a mantra that includes accepting situations I cannot change (radical acceptance) as well as radically accepting my emotions (no longer suppressing, no longer resisting what-is within me and without. This gives me access to energy otherwise wasted in futile resistance.

I had been distrustful of people- expecting people to be like my mother, to catch me off guard with accusations and insults and put downs 😔- much more than I am now. Progress has been made 😊

I am hoping to visit the local taproom for some socialization this afternoon. I hope you are sleeping restfully at this time 😴💤

🤍Anita

Dear Robi:

It’s been the warmest winter here, there’s been frost only for a week and no snow at all. I am imagining Robi building an igloo in the park🙂

read only a part of your post and am looking to thoroughly read and reply Thurs morning (it’s Wed afternoon here).

Please take good care of yourself, you deserve good care🙂

🤍Anita

No problems in regard to typos 🙂. It’s okay not being perfect.

I am using my phone and didn’t read but only a portion of your recent two messages.

I’ll read and reply later, but for now, seems like you’re attracted to men like your father (such a common thing), trying to .. fix your father by proxy of (Phillip, W), trying to connect with a person like your father.
Make him love you?

🤍 Anita

Dear Alessa:

You mentioned concluding your IT studies in two years. I am impressed by how persistent you’ve been in your studies while so much of your time and energy has gone into being a dedicated parent and dealing with health issues.

Truly, you are an inspiration 🤞👏👍

I am no stranger to financial worries, by the way. I just try to distract myself best I can. I’m avoidance, I guess 😔.

Also, my tendency is to be distrustful. I am working on it.

🤍 Anita

You are very welcome, Emma. It so happened I did have a good night (I just realized following you mentioning it 🙏)

Take your time with your answer. It doesn’t need to be a perfect or complete answer. Just a bit of this, a bit of that is good-enough 🙂.

Love 🤍 Anita