I was recently offered an amazing reflection from my dog, Dood, which seemed to me to reflect the impact that loving care has on learning. Being a teacher, I have observed that children learn much more easily when they have a good connection with their teacher. This experience with my dog clearly and simply validated my observation that the relationship between teacher and student is fundamental and foundational for supporting student learning in all subject areas, especially in the area of basic self-care.
Dood spends his days outside in our extensive yard and on the verandah. He is allowed inside at night to sleep on his personal armchair. Dood usually sleeps on top of his pink blanket on his chair and I then place it on the verandah for airing during the day.
A few weeks ago winter hit unexpectedly, bringing with it cold winds that had a definite bite in them. This caused overnight temperatures to drop to the level of bitterly cold. So each night during this cold snap, I would tuck Dood in very lovingly to make sure that he remained warm overnight. I made sure his blanket cradled his whole body and pulled it up over his head to keep him snug, cosy and warm. Sometimes, I would sing as I did this and our nightly ritual always ended by my planting a tender kiss on the top of his head. Dood often sighed contentedly as I did this. This ritual ended when the cold snap passed.
A week or so later, we experienced the same winds during the day. Dood’s pink night blanket was as usual on the verandah fence airing, and his day bed, a cushion-y mat, was on the verandah floor. I had been in a room at the back of the house, however as I came back into the kitchen, my jaw dropped, as I noticed what Dood had done to keep himself warm from the bitter winds.
He had placed his day bed next to the dining chairs to shelter it. He had then removed the pink blanket from the fence where I had placed it for airing and had positioned it in a perfectly symmetrical way on his bed: somehow he had folded it in half straight down the middle so that it covered the bed squarely. He had then taken the top half of the blanket and used it very precisely to cover the whole of his body as he lay on the mat. Even his head was covered in the identical manner in which I had covered it the preceding week. And he was fast asleep, content and snug, just as he had been when I tucked him in myself during our nightly ritual.
I marvelled at the precision of the placement of the blanket and how he had managed to fold it meticulously in a straight line down the middle. Had he really accomplished all of this just by using his teeth?
As I reflected, I realised that ‘how he did it’ was possibly not as remarkable as the fact that he had done it, and that he was confirming the role of loving care in learning. Dood’s a dog and he has accomplished this skill with such ease because of the tenderness I was bringing to this task, and to him, every night for a week. He appreciated that and so could then master this skill, one of loving self-care, all by himself, under this shared impulse of warmth, tenderness and care.
Now, if a mere dog can master such an unlikely skill simply because of the care he felt, how important is loving care in supporting the learning of our children in schools?
I would say it is foundational and I question what we are all missing out on by not having care, love and tenderness as integral to our education system. What effect would this level of connection and inspiration have on the student–teacher relationship and so, ultimately, on learning and on the quality of ambient energy in schools?
Thank you, Dood, for providing this lesson in loving care.
Dedicated to all those who make life about Love and Truth and who reflect what true education is and what is possible through loving care.
By Coleen
Further Reading:
What’s All The Fuss About Self-Care?
Self-Love and Inspiring Love in Another
From resisting Self-Care to Confirming Myself
The Truth about Serge Benhayon 
Loving care is foundational where ever we are or work, it is the beholding of the love that we are and share with everyone.
Yes if that connection is not there, its very difficult to teach, and the students are less willing and open to learn.
Reflecting to children the wisdom that they are perfect just the way they are is one of the best support we can offer.
Loving care allows us to understand and learn. Thank you for this Coleen as I was self-reflecting this morning, if we are ever confused about a part of life, caring for ourselves rather than pushing to know and understand is far more sucessful when it comes to learning about quality of life.
The way you feel, the level of ease you feel is vital to learning. They say there is a good level of stress that makes you learn better. I would say this comes with the use and drain of nervous energy and the fear of getting it wrong. Whereas in an environment where you feel loved, valued and seen for who you are, without any pressure to achieve, there is a freedom to learn and explore and even go beyond what has been presented.
Dood the dog, how gorgeous and what a wonderful lesson he shared with you. A beautiful reflection if we are open to learning, as you were Coleen.
An amazing confirmation of the power of our reflection to inspire even a dog to be more loving – all our movements are being clocked by others and constantly offer an opportunity for another to evolve.
Amazing (and very sweet) this just shows how important it is to live with love and care for both ourselves and others and the reflection and impact this has on others and yes then how important is it that ‘loving care in supporting the learning of our children in schools?’ Also loving the shout out to Serge Benhayon who indeed ‘always makes life about Love and Truth and who constantly reflects what true education is and what is possible through loving care.’ and is a true inspiration to all … he has most certainly supported and helped me to love myself far more than I have ever done and this is continually unfolding.
We learn so much more by actions than words, and the quality of the actions definately effects the quality of the learning.
There is no end to what we can all can learn of our true way of being, whenever we surrender to the being guided by love. Imagine how amazing school would be if we were confirmed from day one to be who we already are in essence, to live in honor of our equalness and with the confidence to walk in the power of our connection to our love within, through whatever we do. Thank you Coleen, for sharing how through loving connections we truly learn and grow in a way that supports us to live the power of who we are.
I actually think that without teaching how to care and love yourself we are creating the greatest disservice to our children. Educating their minds without educating them on the basics of living with care is like treating them like robots.
As I reflected, I realised that ‘how he did it’ was possibly not as remarkable as the fact that he had done it, How absolutely beautiful how Dood has been confirming the role of loving care in learning. Your tender care and of course the reflection of living this level of care for yourself everyday is why he did what he did and why children will simply learn what they need when there is a role model like you standing before them.True teaching Coleen.
I love this blog Coleen. The image of Dood melting with the love and care you provided him and then being able to provide the same self-care is amazing. Doesn’t this ultimately show the responsibly we have as role models to our kids? If we show them what true love and care is, they will be able to apply it for themselves.
The way your dog replicated the tenderness and care you treat him with is remarkable; and as you say, it doesn’t matter how he did it – teeth, tail, paws and all – what counts is the fact that he did it and with such unbelievable precision.
It’s funny how we see the relationships and the simple care we build with a dog as lesser or so different to the ones we have with other adults. It’s like we think because we have words, we must be experiencing and sharing something so advanced. My experience is the contary, that these deep and understanding bonds we build with Loving gestures have so much to teach us about how we might all interact. I feel our world would be so helped if we spoke less but let Love come through so much more in our every movement and action. Thank you Colleen for this touching (dog’s) tale that makes me want to jig for joy and stop wagging the finger and being annoyed.
Self care should be part of education. I don’t see it enough in the world and I don’t see how this is integrated into how we are living and the choices we are making in each moment. We have an opportunity here to change this – and each person who does is a living reflection to another. We can as a humanity inspire each other rather than criticise each other.
The word teacher implies the word student, but there is no reason why to confine that relationship within the school context or to the subjects we learn in school. And this is when this relationship starts to become interesting. Each of us is as much a teacher as a student and there is so much each of us can teach and learn from each other! We are very lucky. We get so many different reflections a day that has a potential to shift, trigger or confirm something in ourselves. We have to embrace the world… of reflections.
What a great story – we I feel love in any exchange so much can be mastered.
Such a simple example of how we can always learn from others – big, small, animal or nature. If we choose to see them, there are reflections everywhere.
In schools today where it is all about academics, with no love whatsoever it would be superb if this sort of thing became the most important lesson ever as the better we are able to treat ourselves, the better we will treat others. If Dood can do it anyone can!
Love is found in the fine details of our daily living and how we in turn care and nurture ourselves has a flow on effect to all we encounter and that is much to appreciate. Dood the dog is one super cute doggie Coleen, thank you for sharing your blog.
This really shows that if we are taught that it is okay to nurture ourselves and take care, paying attention to detail we, more often than not, will do so.
A great reflection of the power of unknowingly teaching self through being loving… and a great reminder to you of what you can teach the children in your class through how you are with them daily, whilst the rest of the education system takes its time to recognize the importance of self-care as a fundamental part of the curriculum and the children’s lives.
‘Now, if a mere dog can master such an unlikely skill simply because of the care he felt, how important is loving care in supporting the learning of our children in schools?’ It is crucial as there is no true learning without love and inspiration by someone who lives loving care for her or himself.
I love this lesson from your dog because it shows that if we are open to it we can learn from everything that is around us. What is required is an openness and a humbleness to learn.
Once we are shown what loving tenderness is, what nurturing is, it is imprinted upon our very being for us to call upon if we so choose it. We may choose to forget about it, but it is always there as a memory of a feeling.
That is the great value of The Way of The Livingness, we are offered a marker, a palpable feeling in our bodies that we can then refer to if we so choose and do not have to rely on knowledge or a picture or thought in our mind.
This is gorgeous to read Coleen, who said you can’t teach an old dog new tricks? This is a beautiful example of the power of our Livingness and the reflection we offer can inspire others (even animals) to also make more loving choices.
I have noticed how someone who helps me clean my house has had an influence on the way I fold towels and bed linen. She loves folding things and the care with which she does this is so easy to feel. I take much more care in folding these too now . I love going to the airing cupboard and finding the order and harmony that greets me there.
What a Dood… there is so much that we can learn from life, if we simply observe.
What a great article Coleen, so beautiful to see Dood the dog, reflecting back to you the loving care you had given to him.
At times I have had the opposite lesson to what Dood offered, i.e. when I have been disregarding or off-hand in my manner, I have been surprised and aghast to see others follow suit. Either way the lesson is in responsibility and the awareness that our choices have profound knock on effect on the world around us.
I agree Gill life is full of lessons that can stop us in our tracks and nudge us into a deeper understanding and awareness. This blog is a great reminder as I don’t think we pay nearly enough attention to these precious lessons.
It’s lovely to appreciate the effect of true care expressed outwardly into the world.
What a delightful sharing of you dog Dood. He sounds like he was very inspired by what foundation you’d laid down with him. Absolutely gorgeous that he was able to recreate that for himself, very clever.
A reality check on how disconnected we have become and how keenly this is felt in our education system. Children as commodities rather than people to relate to, to learn alongside and to develop life’s greatest skills with: connecting to others and building relationships. Thank you, Ingrid.
It is a point of such inspiration to remember that we learn so much more from what we observe than what we hear, so as teachers, parents, friends, family members we can support each other hugely simply by taking responsibility for our lives, our wellbeing and health and the way we live.
“the relationship between teacher and student is fundamental and foundational for supporting student learning in all subject areas, especially in the area of basic self-care.” it is beautiful to return to this delightful blog and its amazing simplicity of sharing the reflection and importance of self care for us all and Dood the dogs reflection of this is inspirational.
Great example of how love works, and what seems like a miracle is in fact what is becoming normal when love becomes a baseline from where one lives. Thank you Coleen and Serge Benhayon, I appreciate how love is in everything that I do to the best of my ability. I now feel how lost I was before the Universal Medicine presentations on at-least being gentle. Before the presentations love was too big a step from the disregard I was in.
When an experience is felt in the body, and one that included loving care and attention, it’s like it is marked in the body. Your body remembers it and remembers it as true. That marker is forever there and cannot be erased. From here, you can mark what is a loving act and can choose to continue to bring this into your life because you know how it felt.
I couldn’t agree more Jo, it makes sense that if the teacher is caring and truly supportive children wouldn’t feel pressured into having to understand and could learn at their own pace. It seems to me that the teacher has a lot of power to set the tone for the whole class and that the pupils will feel that, and then act differently depending on the teacher.
Spending time with my beautiful 2 year old niece yesterday, I marvelled at how much she was picking up. She seems to be learning so much and I can definitely say she is able to do so because of the loving supportive space that her parents allow her.
Your sharing about Dood, shows us that one can never underestimate the impact and impression that love has on another.
What is so beautiful to note about this glorious sharing Coleen is that we are all equally teachers and students of life and the foundation for which we set ourselves including our rhythms and rituals of self care greatly affect everyone around us too, in remarkable ways. No one is left outside of this beautiful ripple affect not even Dood the dog. Great sharing thank you Coleen.
Wow I just loved re readimg this sharing Coleen it is such an awesome reminder that what is required is a deep level of love and care for ourselves and others as our foundation and from there any thing is possible!
Connection is so important… As parents, teachers, employers, in any role where we deal with other people… If we choose to connect first then beautiful things can happen.
The other lovely thing about showing tender loving care to others is we then have a marker in our bodies and can choose to do it for ourselves….. as ‘Dood’ did.
I love this story, it is very warming. How can any one or any animal not respond to loving care? It is something we all have a right to.
We don’t often think that our choices and actions are having a big influence but this goes to show how the smallest of gestures can have the biggest impact.
Such a pertinent reminder that everything is energy – life has its own pulse and connection with the ALL if we care to listen to it and learn from it what is there for us to learn!
We can absolutely learn from every interaction we have. It is so important to be open to what is right there in front of us at any given moment and let that teach us.
Yes indeed Colleen imagine the care levels when a teacher ensures that they connect with all their students and allows them to be themselves.
How true it is that connection is everything. True connection allows great learning and Love to be shared.
I keep coming back to your gorgeous blog Coleen and each time I read it I smile. It was such a gentle, true reminder of the power of loving consistency for ourselves in all we day and also in the way we share with others.
This is the perfect confirmation that we learn so much more inspired by example rather than any number of persuasive words.
Agreed Matilda, love definitely is an inspiration that I have learnt from and loving words that carry no agenda are also a conformation of the love that I can be.
Gorgeous, when we see true love, we are inspired to live it to. It is in true living care that we truly learn and see the truth of our connection with everything. As we can know that what we are tuned into.
When a teacher supports us to know and believe in ourselves we know this is a very profound experience as the world opens up. There is a transformation from feeling ‘small’ to an expansion of insight to what is truly possible beyond the limitation that was perceived. And this is from one teacher- perhaps for just one year of school. There are possibilities for amazing expansion if this was to be the experience of many all through school and beyond, appreciating teachers come in many ways through our lives.
I find this a very poignant read and one which clearly shows the power of love and tenderness in action and how far reaching that can be. We should never underestimate what our actions can produce, nor should we underestimate animals.
I agree dear Jane, it’s a very beautiful account of what happens when we offer consistent loving care.
We are all (dogs included) capable of powerful reflections of livingness.
Looking back to my best teachers at school I can remember the main reason I learnt was because they were kind they allowed space for learning. Love will always be our greatest teacher.
Re-reading this there is an interesting reflection offered also in the simplicity of life for Dood the dog. He, having felt the quality of care and love in the action of placing a blanket over him didn’t get caught up in the remnants of his day, meaning he was distracted and not present when he did this for himself but instead was connected to what he had felt and providing this again for himself the next day.
I notice with my dogs how joyful they are in life due to the tender and attentive care they receive from me daily. I feel a big part of that is my ability to understand their needs which builds trust, and my care is in itself a form of communication. Our tender care for others and for ourselves is truly the most vital part of our foundation in life. I know that I too now live a much more joyful life due to my increased self care and attentiveness to my needs. Big thanks to Serge Benhayon who is truly a world leader in self care and it’s vital role in our lives.
Jo thank you for your heartfelt and beautiful comment. Your words about the effects of an absence of loving care on your brain and capacity to learn speak volumes about our current education system, and in particular about the extreme pressures of exams.
I am also struck how our dogs are a great reflection for their owners. If we learn to care for ourselves in that loving way it can not but be shared with others.
People get inspired by the reflection from those around them. It would appear that dogs do the same!
I love what you have shared and reflected here Coleen;
“Now, if a mere dog can master such an unlikely skill simply because of the care he felt, how important is loving care in supporting the learning of our children in schools?” Fundamental and foundational Coleen as you have so wisely and lovingly pointed out.
Coleen from what you share here and presentations I have seen you give you are a true blessing for children and young people to have a as a teacher. Teachers have a tough job and in my books are amazing with regards to how the majority of them put the children first regardless of all the stats they are given to meet. ‘Being a teacher, I have observed that children learn much more easily when they have a good connection with their teacher.’
I am in awe of Dood! He sounds absolutely gorgeous. I love what you are presenting here Coleen. “Everything is everything and nothing is nothing” as a super-wise man has often shared.
We as adults would have the humbleness and willingness to be inspired in the way that Dood chose, how different would the world than be? There would be no space for competition, jealousy, comparison which means no bullying, no war, no fights etc. Just equality and a natural inner knowing that we all can learn from each other, we’re all innately deeply loving beings and that each and every one of us has their unique expression. It’s beautiful to appreciate and giving permission to oneselves to be inspired and learn from somebody or something else. Thank you Dood!
This is a beautiful sharing, and yes most of us respond to tender loving care, it seems that is something we have lost connection to in the way we treat ourselves, and we compartmentalise this as something we do at home, or with our family. But every child needs tender loving care ALL THE TIME, not just at home, but at school and everywhere as it is the medicine of wellbeing, the gold that supports our children to live their potential.
I love this story. Sometimes others need a helping hand (or reflection) of how to care for themselves – to be reminded that we are precious and worthy of our own love and care.
What a dude Dood is! My dog Roxy has developed a self loving way over the years and is reluctant to leave the house when it is cold and if it is raining well you almost have to drag her out. Maybe she has also learnt this from us.
The body naturally knows what it needs, key is for us to listen to the signal from our bodies – which in this case is exactly what Dood did, his body reminded him that he needed true nurturing and that he, once he had learnt how, could do that for himself.
Wow! What a blessing it is to read this comment, I feel exactly the same. ‘Understanding connection’ is already showing us that this is how we should be educated. I absolutely concur as when I had teachers who connected with me, my grades became above average from being at the bottom of the class. Forget about being a ‘Dood’ I was a real dodo!
I connect to what you have shared Mary, for I remember the teachers who related to me and in those classes my grades improved considerably without any extra effort on my part.
Wow! Coleen, you have inspired me to look into the possibility of getting a ‘Dood Dog’. Would it be possible if I could get the next generation, that it may have evolved and may even fold my sheets and blankets?
The fact that loving and caring actions are so readily emulated by those receiving them from others shows how natural they are; that they are already known.
“Now, if a mere dog can master such an unlikely skill simply because of the care he felt, how important is loving care in supporting the learning of our children in schools?” – Shows that the love and care we hold for ourselves and another has an effect! If I tell a child/teenager that they are worth to be cared for – this is great, but not enough. We have to treat them in their preciousness – even they don’t do so with themselves and/or others. Specially when they don’t do so! Someone has to start and bring/offer a change. Great inspiration Coleen & Dood. Thank you.
Wow Love it Coleen, what a fantastic example of true learning and an inspiration for all of us to put that love and care into all we do. I know in the past when I have tried to learn something it has sometimes been impossible if I can feel how impatient and frustrated the teacher is, it is like what ever is being taught I am not able to comprehend if it is not thought with love. Love and care as you have so beautifully shown is a vital ingredient in learning which sadly in education these days is often missing.
Sympathy is a tricky one isn’t it? Growing up I always believed that this was a good thing, but on being more aware I have felt how imposing it feels and also a little bit sickly if I am honest. When I am teaching a class of kids being sympathetic and being in drive (to push on their learning) it does not support them at all. Yet, when I remain open, caring and loving with them it makes them feel secure giving them a foundation to learn from.
It truly is amazing what Dood was able to learn because of the love and care applied. This is a great stop moment to reconsider how we are with our kids when we teach them.
This is a beautiful tale which shows how a simple act of tender loving care is deeply appreciated by not only fellow humans but by the animal kingdom as well.
I wonder of the reflection that teachers can bring to their students when they build that level of loving care for themselves.
I have to agree Adam, You don’t see animals smoking cigarettes, drinking alcohol or indulging in self-abuse at the expense of their bodies. This is a massive unexplained difference between animals and us; we have to go right back to the origins of man before we understand the self-abuse started when we turned away from god.
Dood seem to me to be a very wise being, not merely because he was able to take care of himself but because he recognized and appreciated care and love and responded to it for himself. We as humans would do well do follow Dood’s example and accept and appreciate love when it is offered, and show that love to ourselves when it is missing.
Yes you can’t consider true education without bringing love and energetic awareness into the equation.
I agree Paula, it’s amazing what we can learn by observing nature and animals… even more… what we can learn about ourselves by observing each other!
Nature, and animals particularly, are a consistently amazing reflection for us all to learn from.
With declining results in educational outcomes maybe Dood the dog has just revealed the secret to learning….. Loving care in learning and a kiss on the head.
Colleen, this is hilarious to read how Dood the dog tucked himself in! Dog at times can behave in such a human way, and when you see them do something like this, it makes you smile! Thank you for sharing this – and it is so true the a moment of tenderness and care can never be under-estimated in its power of inspiration to animals and humans alike.
I love this blog, it is a great example of how when you connect with another and be love, this inspires the person or in this case your dog, to be that same love to them self.
The quality of care that we offer is felt by the recipient – anyone can perform a practical action of ‘care’, true care makes all the difference and offers a true inspiration.
Spot on Eva – care that comes from the heart (heartfelt) is very different to the care than simply ticks the box and tells you you have accomplished what is deemed as care. The former inspires more of the same heartfelt care, and grows both people/animals.
I love re-reading this blog Coleen, it brings a deeper awareness of the quality of energy I am choosing to bring to my day in every way and this is deepening the sense of delicacy and fragility within.
What a remarkable story! As you say, that the dog thought to keep himself warm by getting the blanket as you had shown him how. I can indeed see what an impact it would have if this was what we incorporated in schools – a two-way life changing benefit.
Daily rituals offer us an opportunity to go deeper with our care and love. Your daily ritual with Dood certainly reflects this.
‘What effect would this level of connection and inspiration have on the student–teacher relationship’ – An excellent question Coleen; what if teachers not only accepted their responsibility to follow the syllabus and ‘educate’ the kids on the content in the subject, but also that they are one of the key role models/figures in the children’s lives so they must look after themselves and really connect with the kids to inspire them to develop that skill with themselves and each other.
The story of Dood the Dog will go down as one of my favourites, as it proves that love is universal and can be felt by everyone and everything.
Inspired by this blog I took extra care yesterday morning to fold my pj’s lovingly and make my bed so it was welcoming for me to come back to and I felt such a warmth when I was welcomed by it after a long imperfect day.
The animal world is full of what we consider amazing things because we will feel we are the top of the food chain. Monkeys will dip a stick into an ant or termite mound and then eat bugs on the stick like a child with a sucker, and crows will pick up dried bread fly to a water source and drop into the water to soften it to make it easier to eat. Are these actions just passed on from observing? Do our children pick up the things we do, good and bad from watching us? It is part of their evolution when they feel and adopt the benefits of loving care.
A most beautiful example how loving care affects us all.
I often hear of teachers engaged in ‘lesson planning’ and wonder if space is ever given to ‘love planning’ or ‘planning to bring more love’ into teaching for themselves and pupil. How would it feel to walk into a classroom, speak, stand, observe, listen and respond to pupils with each expression flowing from an open and loving heart. What a joy for pupils to be met and related to in this way.
Dood, the dog is a living example of the love lived in your house, Coleen. This love can be lived everywhere. The touching point is that an animal, who we mostly consider as less intelligent than we think we are as human beings, is taking what he has learned through his body experience into practise. How many people do this for themselves?
I have experience of primary school children with severe emotional and behavioural problems, transformed by the presence of a teacher that gave them the attention they needed and related to them with love.
A beautiful testimony to the power of teaching by example and reflection rather than just using words.
Thanks for sharing how this happened. Your dog is remarkable indeed. A huge lesson for us all ?
Yesterday shortly before reading this blog, I had a computer class with two teachers. One tried to read out from a sheet the other engaged with us and made everybody laugh. The difference I felt in my body was so big, and wow the first one almost made me feel sick. The real difference I can see thanks to you Colleen is the connection that was there in the second experience. This makes me stop and consider what it is that we choose and how we move and thus teach each other each day. If life is all about connection first then we are all contributing to the success of the world’s class in a big way.
Letting in love I get to feel the love that is inside me again and love is no longer just a word but something so tangible and real that I do things with a tenderness that I hadn’t previously afforded myself or others.
Gorgeous – an amazing feeling reading this blog. The imprint of loving care is so powerful that it really opens us to the possibilities of this amongst humanity.
Indeed! It’s almost unbelievable that a dog could be so…human like. But I too have witnessed similar clever actions from animals. We certainly do underestimate them!
Beautiful Coleen, this blog not only shows us how clever dogs are, but how innately we all feel true care to be and once we are reflected that connection, and feel it, we are able to choose it ourselves again. Like this example shows us and the many examples on this blogsite show and will keep showing. There is another way, one of connection and inner-fire.
Wouldn’t it be beautiful to relate to our children by watching and observing them, rather than telling them what to do and who they are. We learn by example don’t we? Dood’s sharing with us how joyful and playful it is to learn and how we are allowed to completely surrender when we’re loved and cared for. The more we surrender, the more we feel the impact love and tenderness has on us. So the more we learn. We’re holding each other, in a much more profound way that we can (yet) imagine, yet know somewhere deep inside.
The loving care you share here Coleen and its reflection with Dood your amazing dog is so beautiful to read and know how everything counts so much. There is so much more to intelligence than that from the mind and our bodies our movements and our care reflects everything lovingly.
I am amazed at the accuracy in which Dood was copying exactly what you had given to him.
This illustrates that we all respond to gentle, loving and nurturing care… equally so. We as humans are no different in that way to any other living being on this planet.
Animals, and nature, are a constant amazing reflection for us every day… if we only take care and take notice of what is being offered – there is much to be appreciated.
I work in an education facility and just yesterday met with a student that was disengaged, rude and at risk of leaving school. This student said they were incapable of completing an assessment task they were given. When I connected to this student in full, appreciated them and offered them an opportunity to take responsibility they transformed in front of me. The student then completed the assessment task and did extremely well. I realised that the students that many teachers have placed in the too hard basket are more than capable of ‘doing the work’ it’s not a matter of intelligence but a matter of being connected to.
Such wisdom is the hallmark of any true teacher, for way beyond the ‘material’ we teach, is the quality of connection and holding of another in all that he or she is – the willingness and capacity to feel another’s truth, even if in his or her living, it is well obscured (at least for now…).
We have to ask, what is ‘learning’ and ‘education’ truly about? Yes, there are the myriad of skills, awarenesses and practical necessities that are needed for living life, and being able to be a contributing part of our society… But is not the greatest ‘contribution’ we can make, the quality of our being? Do we not take to our ‘grave’ (as they say), the richness of love we have lived? Our willingness to love ourselves and hold each other in love, to truly care, connect and appreciate the all that each and every person is?
Thank-you Coleen, for your amazing story, and the reflections you have shared here.
The simplicity the dog is acting with is inspiring. He listens to the body in full.
Coleen I strongly agree how important loving care is in supporting the learning of our children in schools – it is this that sets them up for higher education. To hold on to the loving way with themselves, where love and tenderness become an integral part through their education can support them in the cold and very frequently heartless environment of further education and university.
I love the image of you tucking Dood in for the night, and even more the image of him doing it for himself. Amazing!
I love inspiring shares like this. We can never guess the extent of the impact of our loving choices and actions on another.
Our education system could definitely use more focus on observation, deep listening and a dose of love. Recently I attended a Kinder Graduation and the power of what our little ones are being indoctrinated into so early in their lives is deeply disturbing. The call to separate from who we are and the truth that we are already amazing was evident in the celebration of achievements and certificates and aspiration to be something note worthy in the future.
Never do we need to preach or tell people what to do – simply live what we know to be true and others will respond and make their own decisions… even dogs! In other words, self-love is contagious and just by living it, others can be inspired to also take care.
A gorgeous reflection of love and care, for everyone, including dogs!
We cannot underestimate the divine intelligence of animals. I remember when I was going through a particularly hard time in my life, I was lying on my bed having a cry, and our cat (who incidentally was more like a dog in the way he behaved) came and lay down beside me, stretched his body out so he could get really close to me, and then everso tenderly put his paw on my cheek and looked me straight in the eyes. It was a moment I will always remember and I knew then without a doubt that there was something far greater than I could imagine holding and supporting me through what was a very difficult phase.
Thank you Coleen, reminding us that we are here to inspire others to reignite their inner-heart.
Imagine if we were to take responsibility for the fact that every single one of our choices impacted and influenced those around us, and that we had the potential to create a ripple of inspiration that could change many people’s lives simply from how we are.
This gorgeous story about Dood taking care of himself in this way, highlights how much we all (including dogs) can take on in our way of living, simply from feeling and copying reflections from others around us.
What a beautiful role model you are Coleen – confirmed and reflected back to you by Dood.
“Now, if a mere dog can master such an unlikely skill simply because of the care he felt, how important is loving care in supporting the learning of our children in schools?” If we really nurtured our children to the same extent in the way that you did Dood, Colleen there is no question of the inner impact this would have on how children feel about themselves; rather than the usual not feeling good enough, children would feel their sense of worth and that they mattered.
Coleen, this is such a great article, I love this, ‘Now, if a mere dog can master such an unlikely skill simply because of the care he felt, how important is loving care in supporting the learning of our children in schools?’ This relationship is really important, teachers can inspire and be role models for children when it comes to caring for themselves, I feel that so much is missed out on when the focus at school is just academic and not on self care and self love which ultimately benefits everyone, these are super important life skills and from here learning can happen as children feel cared for, appreciated and well and so it makes sense that they would then be able to focus better and enjoy learning more.
Isn’t it amazing how a dog can be more knowledgable about how to care and look after itself than a human being? This literally blows me away!
Coleen, this blog shows to me once again the power of bringing loving care in all that we do. It is an inspiration for many, even for some we would have not expect it the be inspiring as with Dood your dog.
When the love and care of another is felt, miracles are possible.
The role of loving care is a vital ingredient for learning, as clearly seen from your sharing of Dood.
“Now, if a mere dog can master such an unlikely skill simply because of the care he felt, how important is loving care in supporting the learning of our children in schools?” I would love to see this teaching at a teachers conference, it is profound and so easy to relate to – there can be no excuses as my us supporting our children with a depth of love and care they will learn to deeply care for themselves.
What a wonderful reflection from your dog Dood, of how expressed tenderness and loving care can have such a profound effect. I love your appreciation of this and the sharing this reflection offered of what you already knew and that is the connection and love you have with your pupils is the key to their joyful learning. A great lesson for us all.
A very cute sharing to read again that everything we do is a reflection. Even though dogs can’t talk to us, they can communicate to us in full by their behaviours. This is the same for children – they are constantly learning and observing.
This is a great example of the responsibility we hold in every moment of every day and that even a dog is affected by this as equally as everything else.
Absolutely Kevin – the ripple effect of our choices and the quality we live our lives reaches far and doesn’t discriminate against kingdoms. The interconnectedness of us all is very real.
What a heart warming account – this has the makings of an excellent children’s storybook, Coleen – perhaps you have considered this already?
This story is remarkable – not just because of what the dog did, but because of what he is teaching us about how we learn and that it is all about connection and love first before it is about anything else.
This article inspired me so much when I read it yesterday that I could feel the ripple effect it had in particular on a relationship I have with another. Knowing that how we are in one relationship affects every relationship also reminds me of how powerful this has been. And all from reading a blog! Thank you Colleen and thank you Dood.
A dog offers unconditional love, which melts even the most appeared toughest of people, that in itself is a lesson for us all, particularly in our relationship with children, they also deeply respond to heart felt connection that is lived.
It is so beautiful to see and feel people (and apparently animals:-)) allowing the choice to be inspired by love. Isn’t this blog an amazing example of how we have an impact, even when we’re not aware that we might inspire somebody. If this isn’t an inspiration and invitation to ‘just’ be ourselves, what or who is?
Great blog Coleen. School and other learning environments like university always feel cold and a bit harsh to me. Exams are often announced in a way that is a bit scary almost like they want to make sure you will study. Yet is this indeed the most efficient way? I feel like you that when there is care put into the class and learning process and you feel valued as a student you can learn so much more.
What you describe here Lieke would be awesome and groundbreaking. Bringing love and care into the classes in which you are appreciated already for who you are and the subject you study is also appreciated on the same level and in relation to what it can bring to humanity when we study with love and care embedded.
This is a great opportunity of appreciation of the power of our reflection and the simplicity and true inspiration we offer another by our livingness.
My understanding of “the role of loving care in learning” deepened reading this blog. We are always learning, it is a constant, we are forever students of life. But in what quality are we learning? Your blog beautifully explores for us what it is to have loving care in learning. If I think about many situations of my own or what I have witnessed of others when they learn, frustration is often a key ingredient as people can be impatient with themselves to ‘get it’. I know I can and have. This is a beaut reminder to bring a loving care into what I am learning.
Yes, indeed, Sarah. This is a much lovelier way to learn rather than the pressure and impatience we normally experience. With loving care on the syllabus, we would certainly all be forever students.
A wonderful lesson for today Sarah, as for every day and every time I sit down in front of the computer. Our most challenging and frustrating tasks are the ones where we can truly help ourselves to become gentle and loving with ourselves. Making that choice for ourselves, as Coleen did for Dood, we then become our own teachers. The consistency is important I feel, a day is not enough, it has to be built upon so that our bodies take on the beautiful quality of the love offered. I love your story of this true relationship Coleen, be it “merely” a dog. We relate to everything, and in so doing can learn these invaluable lessons.
There are many great offerings in what you write – the importance of role modelling to others (human and animal alike) and our natural response to listen to the body, to heed its call and to act on the wisdom offered is an expression of Love that supports us no end.
Wow! If a dog can do this, ending all wars and conflicts must be even easier for us humans – all is required is a bit of love and care!
Beautiful blog Colleen. Dood’s response to the loving manner in which you cared for him demostrates the impact our movements can have on those around us.
Yes what if..? I’d say true self care does not have a limitation or an end, it is a natural part of a daily rhythm.
This sharing is very humbling, in the sense that it becomes very obvious that we are sources of inspiration 24/7 – or not.
I agree Sandra, to learn to truly care for ourselves is probably the most profound learning in our lives – as it will affect every action and reflection thereafter.
This is such a gorgeous story of how loving tender care gets passed on. The opposite has been the case in society in general – harsh parents bring their kids up to be tough because that’s how they had it when they were children. Time to change the record and Dood is showing us the way.
As I read this I recognised that we are teaching in so many situations and environments, for example training someone in a busy cafe environment or sitting one on one with someone in a women’s refuge etc. I have observed how when love, care, support and tenderness is shared with someone as they learn they then can choose to teach others from that same space. It is gorgeous to watch this happen in life.
When something that feels to be of love is shown and shared lovingly, it is only natural that we want to have that for ourselves. That’s how we get inspired to build our own livingness.
If only we as parents and teachers did as much for our children as your beautiful dog did for himself. That he so loved the nurturing that you gave him Coleen that he did it for himself. That is showing us we need to take responsibility to nurture ourselves, and that we will feel we deserve this enough to not wait for someone else to do it for us! A gorgeous blog Coleen.
I can just see and feel Dood as he set himself up with care having received that loving care. And your question is so important, if we approached everyone with true loving care life would be very different and in fact why don’t we? What could we all learn as children and adults when we are treated and treat each other with love and care? How much more grace and harmony could we bring to shared tasks when we take care of each other first – it’s very obvious and yet not the way we currently approach work or learning – time to change and see the change.
This is utterly divine Coleen, for it is the tenderness and loving detail we bring to our daily lives and how we in turn embrace others with this same movement, that the real magic of love bubbles over. Thank you for sharing this is gorgeous.
This blog has blown of my mind.. What an absolute sign of God (God is in the details) – by showing us what true care and so education does when it is done with absolute respect & integrity.
‘Care, love and tenderness’ are also sadly missing from many of our homes or you could say ‘care, love and tenderness’ in consistency is missing from almost all our homes. If we all took the time to lovingly tuck our children into bed with the same love and care as you gave Dood then perhaps children would start asking for a different level of care, love and tenderness when they are in to school.
I love your story and I agree with you Dood has shown us how very fundamental selfcare is and what great difference it makes to our everyday living.
What a beautiful story. I love how your dog mirrored the love and care you showed him. A great point that we can lead by example when it comes to teaching self-care to children.
This proves how much we naturally respond to truly loving care, and how inspired we can be by another to give ourselves that same loving care. Once felt, it is never forgotten.
True inspiration Coleen… no detail too small or insignificant can be an inspiration for another – every moment is a moment to inspire – even if no-one is around it will be felt by the next person who walks by.
This truly illustrates how much we influence all others around us… we each impact one another in so many different ways, many of which we may not even be aware of.
Dood has really reflected how our markers change when care is introduced into a life. Once we know that new level of tender care, it becomes our normal.
Amazing to read about this experience, I can feel the power of hold ourselves and each other.
This is a super-sweet piece of writing and it helps me to look at how I am with my kids and the lessons they are learning from me as we live together: the things that I do which just seem natural and practical but actually are sharing of a great love.
Great confirmation that every tender loving moment we share is registered and inspires others. Our reflections are powerful, as you share Coleen. I love your dogs name, Dood.;)
Dood has illustrated that it is not what we say over and over again but how we hold ourselves and how we follow through in our movements lovingly. From this experience and how it is felt he has then chosen it for himself – Wow, this totally brings the responsibility back to how deeply loving we are with ourselves first in our livingness and the rest takes ‘care’ of itself.
As I was reading your blog I was considering how easy it is to care for another, tuck them in and all but sometimes we don’t make the same effort for ourselves. I know that that has been true for me, and how I have longed for someone to do it for me…. but I have discovered that I can do it for me, and it feels so beautiful to love and care for myself with real care and detail and whats better is that need for someone to do it for me no longer exists.
If we were all shown and taught this loving care from an early age the world would soon become a better place but from what I have seen in a lot of places this is far from what goes on.
What a massive reflection of what the consistent practice of love confirms. This sharing is but a fraction of the boundlessness of love. Inspirational!
Beautifully put Alexis. Love, by its very nature, has the propensity to pull all to where it is as there is no energy in the universe that is more powerful than this. Of course, we then have the choice as to whether we accept this pull to go deeper and allow the transmutation of what is being lived that does not match this vibration to be surrendered, or whether we resist this alchemy, dig our heels in and choose to stay in our comfortable bubbles of stagnation and delay. Love is all that is needed yet we have developed needs that have us seeking elsewhere and everywhere but within to where such great love forever resides.
Gorgeous sharing Coleen. Thank you! Makes me wonder why loving ourselves can at times be so seemingly challenging yet it is in truth so very simple!
What a gorgeous reflection Coleen, one that we all innately know but tend to forget the importance of. Our tender, loving reflection is an incredible offering.
Life is about relationships and learning and we are held in a great cycle of life through which we get the endless opportunity to master what is presented to us in this Earth school. Anything else is merely a distraction we invite our way to not commit in full to re-developing our awareness so we can re-turn and re-live once more the great love that we are. A domestic animal takes its cues from the humans with which it lives, as do we take our cues from each other what is able to be lived or not. How great then is the reflection and thus the responsibility of that which we offer to all who walk this planet alongside us – do we walk all that we are or, do we walk all that we are not?
A beautiful story Coleen and a reminder of the responsibility that we have given that we offer in every moment a powerful reflection.
True loving care brings with it so much. Not only does it feel super supportive, but also very confirming of our true natural way, reflecting that natural way to all others as a heavenly ripple effect. Gorgeous sharing Coleen.
This is a pretty cool, as I was reading your article I realised how lacking we are in this type of education,considering self love and care are are such a valuable life lesson. I wish there was a hidden camera to catch Dood folding that blanket, that would have been a mad Utube vid!
What a beaut experience Coleen, thanks for sharing this with us all. I too have a dog and marvel at how much he teaches me and I also recall my favourite teacher in primary school, I think it was Mrs Schneider. She is the only one I remember and I remember her because she was really kind, fun and really cared for us. We could all feel it.
As I read through your post Coleen, I found my eyes widen in awe at the thought of Dood making the conscious choice to fold his blanket to keep him snug. This is such a beautiful and inspiring story, and would make a lovely little children’s book… just right for inspiring young children to nurture and take care of themselves.
Great story Coleen and what is Dood moving onto next, the washing? It’s great to take the time to appreciate deeply what goes on around us. There are so many pieces of magic that if you are in the ‘busy’ life you miss. The connection you are speaking of that children learn more easily from should be at the forefront of all we do. This true connection that we are always building or deepening is the missing piece in the what we do in life. Like an old saying reveals, ‘quality not quantity’.
I can feel your amazement when you first saw how Dood had tucked himself in, but also the realisation of the gift you had given him by your tender, loving care and the impact that had made on him; how very quickly that had become his normal. How simple is it to care for another, and to then have that care and appreciation reflected back to you in such a beautiful way is a heart warming bonus.
Dood, what a cool dog you are. A beautiful example of how loving care facilitates learning.
Wow – what a beautiful reflection Coleen. We can always go deeper with our loving self care and nurturing – and how inspiring for others to witness.
What an amazing reflection from Dood about just what is possible when we apply loving care to whatever task we are undertaking. I totally agree that this would transform experiences in the education system if this level of self-care was modelled to young people as we all flourish when we feel that someone cares.
Just goes to show Helen, that reflections from nature can come from the most unexpected places, even those right on our doorstep, or in Dood’s case, the verandah!
If we could get that loving care in schools then I would say that the job is pretty much done.
This is a gorgeous example of the way we, and thus do dogs, learn to nurture ourselves. When we are shown from a young age how lovingly we can be with ourselves we can make the choice to continue this for the rest of our lives.
I agree and found for myself that it is so much easier if I am around people that deeply care for themselves to care for myself too. Let alone if they share that same care with me – it is something very beautiful to receive and inspiring me to feel to care for ourselves is natural.
An adorable story Coleen! And a fantastic example of how we can bring more love and care into the world – simply by starting with ourselves (and the dog of course, if you have one – hee hee).
I love it Coleen, something it shows me is that we all learn by example. It is so easy to get caught into thinking we must tell people to do this or that but purely living in our essence, everything gets taken care of. It takes us away from the doing and into the being.
What an awesome fella Dood is Coleen! I couldn’t help but think of the way we nurture our children, every movement every ritual every pattern is felt, observed and learnt from. And so in life, how key is it then to always remember that everything we do and the energy we do it in, is being clocked, and will in some way or another leave its effect.
I love this, how everyone learns from the tender, loving way we are, including our pets. Our changes in weather can be extreme and sometimes we feel the cold but do nothing about it. This is an example of just how self-loving we can be.
Thank You coleen and thank You Dood! It is a funny name for a dog I like it!!
You never see a dog holding a grudge against someone. Could it be we can learn a lot from the reflection of dogs.
This is a beautiful story Coleen, I love how your loving tender gesture towards your dog enabled him to do this for himself in such a perfect way.
I agree, it would be wonderful for our education system to have this level of connection between our students- teachers, & to have self care even as a subject, in all schooling years.
It would be a joy to go to school to learn & grow, and develop ones wisdom & awareness.
It would be amazing to have such ambient energy amongst our schools, we can all live this now & especially teachers can lead the way forth.
What a beautiful reflection of loving care and tenderness from Dood. I know how we can have many examples of this in different ways. I remember as a child I used to heat my socks and undies in the airing cupboard overnight, well before there were radiators in the house, but I forgot as the houses became warmer with central heating. I have returned to doing this recently, it feels so gorgeous to put warm clothes on when I get out of a warm shower.
Wow! I have the opposite feeling from when I lived in the Snowy Mountains and it was freezing going to bed every night to now where I put the electric blanket on to warm the bed. Thank you Gill, maybe I will start to bring what you have lovingly shared about warm clothes to my rhythm.
Aaah this is such a lovely story, it even made me well up when you described how Dood had tucked himself in. It’s a huge lesson and reminder for us all that we have such great responsibility in life – our self love and care is seen and felt and is a point of inspiration for others.
This is an adorable story and connection that you have with Dood Coleen, and the way you have drawn parallels with caring for students is inspiring. Heartwarming!
Your article Coleen brings a tenderness and care beyond this world for us all to connect with. It seems impossible for a dog to care for themselves with such tenderness, but it is not impossible ‘Dood’ has proven this. In his actions and your sharing them we all get first hand the truth that self care is not an indulgence, but an honoring grace.
I like how you say this Leigh, “… that self care is not an indulgence, but an honouring grace.” It also shows the power of love lived.
Awesome blog Coleen, there is no lesson greater than being met for one’s true self.
Very cool sharing Coleen. I love it. Absolutely our education system should stem from this level of love, care and attention as a foundation to what we need to learn for life.
A great example of what is possible when we choose to bring our consistant tenderness and love to anything, whether it is a pet, a person, or even ourselves.
If a dog can copy self-care, then so can we all. There is huge potential to inspire each other through the detail of our thoughts, words and actions.
What a beautiful story ! -And In its simplicity Communicating so much about the impact of Loving care In learning . Love it thank You for sharing Coleen .
That’s remarkable Colleen that Dood was able to do what he did having experienced it from you for a week. It shows what is possible with loving consistency.
The scene of a classroom is very well known. We can all picture the teacher and the students. Yet, we do not often ask the question of what is the energy of the teacher and of each of the students while this teaching/learning dynamics goes on. Energy may some say, it is invisible. Yet, this is not true. Anyone observing can feel into this and feel the enormous disconnection that presides over in a classroom and then relate this with most of what we can observe in terms of behaviours and performance. There is a lot to learn from the teaching/learning dynamics in profound disconnection and lack of love that will help us to understand that connection & love is the only way; the only true way for education.
Amazing – and yet, completely natural. This is a beautiful example on how we learn by example. We can preach all day, but it is only that which is lived that can be truly felt, seen and appreciated by another.
“The relationship between teacher and student is fundamental and foundational for supporting student learning in all subject areas, especially in the area of basic self-care.” Agreed. Relationship to me is everything when we are both teaching and learning. Without that connection there is little richness as it simply becomes about the knowledge.. there is no love or evolution in this. Make it all about the relationship and the teaching and learning takes care of itself in the openness of sharing, supported within a foundation of love.
I just love this blog Coleen, and so true we all desperately crave connection and loving care. And there are a lot of substitutes we use in daily life such as our smartphones and the internet to fill up the emptiness. Children are worthy of learning by the inspiration of the loving care you are talking about. Thank you for this awesome example how love works.
When I was at school there were some subjects I took to easily and others I struggled with – pretty normal you might say – and it is. But what I have realised is that it had so much more to do with the connection with the teacher than anything else. We think education is about imparting knowledge but it is so much more than this. It is about relationships, it is about connection – and where this was missing in my school days, it mattered not what information was being imparted because there was no ‘pathway’ for it to reach me. Understanding connection is in my view the future of education. When we make teaching about connection first, education will be a very different experience for everyone.
Isn’t it amazing how animals are actually better at caring for themselves than us! It’s always amazed me how cows know how to move to high ground when a tsunami comes, to me it really demonstrates how as humans we are out of touch with the world around us, and also with ourselves. Though this relationship can be changed and rebuilt at any moment.
Wow what a great example of what is possible when we are truly caring, connecting, consistent and loving.
Thank you Coleen, I loved reading this and it is inspirational in how it shows it may not be just what you were doing for Dood everynight but yes absolutely the love and care he was feeling during the process. Awesome!
Just love this example of tender loving care bestowed upon ourselves, although in this case Dood, your dog. A beautiful showing of the difference we can make be it child, dog or possibly even fellow adult.
What a wonderful story Coleen, like you say if Dood the dog can learn about self care after a week then how easy would it be for our children if it became their normal and everyone had the same care for themselves as well as for others – these acts of self care would also play out in the work place later on in life.
Hi Coleen as a dog owner I totally enjoyed your article and totally appreciate the reflection our pets offer. Just the other day I was having a conversation in which I was having trouble expressing, when I got home I noticed my dog foaming at the mouth and suffering discomfort from his mouth. I rang the person back and expressed in full, this resulted in a clearing in my throat and whatever was going on with my dogs mouth also disappeared.
A great point Coleen – the way we look after and are around our children makes a huge difference to how they will be in the future, as they’re always watching and learning from our actions. You have given an amazing example of how this plays out with everyone and everything we influence!
Love is the best foundation for life – to learn and to grow and put down roots in soil rich with love and care supports you to be amazing – and when something is taught with love, it imbues you with that love.
Coleen, this feels important to question, ‘I question what we are all missing out on by not having care, love and tenderness as integral to our education system’, from what I observe with education in schools the focus seems to be very much on the academic and very little if any on health and well being and the care and tenderness of the adults and children. I can feel how very different school would be if this care was the focus. At the moment there are so many fall outs – arguments between pupils; a lot of children getting hurt or upset at break times; children off with illness and children feeling overwhelmed or that they are not good enough with the work they are asked to do. An education system based around love, care and tenderness would be absolutely amazing for teachers and pupils. Teachers and pupils would be a lot more healthy and content as a result.
A masterpiece Colleen. I have expressed before that true education integrates self care along side other core curriculum subjects. You have taken this to another level; and shown that this alone is not the answer. What matters is loving and caring relationships between student-teacher and with this children are inspired to lovingly care for themselves, in the way of Dood.
I love this story Coleen. It’s quite incredible that Dood did this, but it really just highlights what can in fact occur when a loving way is our way. So much so that even a dog can become this way. Imagine what is possible with human beings? What a Dood!!
A gorgeous reflection Coleen which has deepened my understanding of the importance of raising our children from birth in a committed environment of loving self-care, an environment that we model and mentor from our hearts and live ourselves.