Writing is a simple and pure act with minimal tools necessary for its execution.
There are as many reasons to write as there are people who write. Some of the best reasons I’ve found to write are:

Writing to create order – as with a legal will

Writing to honor – composing songs for your beloved, particularly those who have died

Writing to process Trauma – writing lets you put your chaotic thoughts in order, and get them out of your head and onto paper (or your computer) where you can observe them. Your writing space is where thoughts can become things.

Writing to form ideas – writing is the ideal space to kick around ideas, test hypotheses, and try new ideas on for size.

Writing to appreciate – writing as a form of appreciation allows you to address the beauty that you see in others, as well as in yourself.

Writing to connect – consider the power of the written word – it stands the test of time and connects human beings across history.

The written word can make time irrelevant.

Writing as art form – Humans are natural storytellers. Stories are an organic form of art. Composing stories, songs, and poetry is where you can express the beauty that resides within the human heart and spirit.

Writing as opinion – writing lets your voice be heard, allows you to weigh in, and use the power of your pen to bring about real, sustainable change.

Writing to inform or instruct – where would we be without the accumulated Wisdom of the ages that we find between the covers of books? For many who may never meet the person who originally wrote the words they savor and are deeply inspired by, writing is the medium with which the author of the work shares their knowledge.

Writing as Legacy – writing as a means of continuity, of sharing the best of who you are. For example, some people feel better once they have written their deathbed bio for the grandchildren they will never meet or for when their kids grow up. It’s a treasure their offspring can treasure for generations to come.

Writing Through Grief: Honoring the Story of You and Your Beloved Pet

The act of writing can be profoundly cathartic, especially when processing deep and profound grief. As an example, I’d like to share a piece I wrote after we made the heartbreaking decision to euthanize our beautiful Australian Shepherd, KC Marie. In this post that I wrote the day after she died, I reflected on how easing a beloved pet out of life is not only an act of deep love but also a profound privilege. That was hard to articulate but easier to write about.

Pets are family, and the grief of losing them can be just as impactful as losing any loved one.

This personal experience demonstrates how writing allows us to confront and express the raw emotions that come with loss. By putting words to these feelings, we can begin to make sense of our sorrow, honor the unique bond we shared, and move toward healing. Writing offers a unique perspective on the grieving process, transforming pain into a meaningful narrative that celebrates the life of the one we’ve lost.

To support others who are navigating this difficult journey, I’ve created a worksheet designed to help honor the memory of a beloved pet. This worksheet invites you to write the story of you and your pet—a reflection of your shared life, the love between you, and the joy they brought. It is especially helpful for those who have faced the heart-wrenching choice of euthanizing their companion.

How the Worksheet Can Help

The worksheet I offer provides prompts and space for reflection, encouraging you to explore:

1. Your favorite memories with your pet.
2. The qualities that made them special.
3. How they brought joy and comfort into your life.
4. The lessons they taught you.
5. The love and care you provided during their final moments.

This Exercise allows you to give voice to your grief while honoring the life of your pet in a meaningful way. Writing their story becomes both an act of remembrance and a step toward healing.

If you or someone you know is grieving the loss of a beloved pet, I am happy to share this worksheet. Please know that you are not alone. I still get misty-eyed when I read what I’ve written below.

Simply contact me through my website – https://www.pauladtozerauthor.com/

It is my hope that it brings comfort and provides a way to channel grief into a healing process of storytelling and connection.

Writing Heals

Grieving the loss of a pet is an emotional journey, but writing can serve as a powerful companion through this process. As I discovered through my reflection on KC Marie’s life and passing, the act of writing is not only a way to process deep grief but also a way to transform it into something meaningful and healing. If you are struggling with the loss of a beloved companion, human or animal, I invite you to use writing to honor their memory. You might find, as I did, that writing holds the key to moving through grief with love, grace, and healing.

Reflections on KC Marie: Love, Loss, and the Healing Power of Animals

Dec 10, 2021

KC Marie Dec 2007-Dec 2021

As I added a picture of our sweet Australian Shepherd, KC Marie, to this post, I found myself looking deeply into her eyes. Tears soon blurred her image.

I cannot count how many times I gazed into those sweet, golden eyes, so full of kindness and understanding. And I cannot truly describe how heartbreaking it was to know I was looking into them for the last time here on Earth.

Like all Aussies, KC had her endearing quirks. She had a particular way she liked to exit the building, always taking the long way around the kitchen table to the back door. She hugged the right side of the hallway every time she went into my husband’s office, where she loved to nap under his desk. Oddly enough, she seemed to get self-conscious when we tried to take her picture head-on. We used to laugh and say that, like the character Cole Sear in The Sixth Sense, KC saw “dead dogs.” Who knows? Stranger things have happened.

The picture I’ve shared here is one of the best photos we have of her. It was taken during our first snowshoe trip, just a week after we rescued her in December 2007 from the Australian Shepherd Rescue in Ellsworth, Maine.

KC Marie: A Life of Loyalty and Love

KC was a high-energy “velcro” dog. She loved running, hiking, and snowshoeing with us. My running pace was always faster with KC leading the way! From the moment we brought her home, she bonded deeply with us and our pack (see photo below).

She wasn’t overly keen on Sarie Berrie, our harlequin poodle (because every dog needs a middle name, at least in our house). After some initial grumbling on both sides, KC grudgingly let Sarie believe she was “the boss.” However, she absolutely adored our Miniature Schnauzer, Ruby Slippers.

Lessons from KC and the Pack

My husband and I are heartbroken, but one of the blessings of having dogs in your life is the memories they leave behind. They teach us loyalty, love, cooperation, enthusiasm, and—most of all—acceptance. KC, in particular, seemed to possess a wisdom beyond her species.

I vividly remember the times we looked into each other’s eyes—when she was afraid at the vet’s office, when she begged me to throw her bright pink ball (the only one tough enough to survive her enthusiasm), and when we grieved the loss of beloved family members together. One especially poignant moment was when we brought Ruby Slippers home from her last trip to the veterinarian. Wrapped in a blanket, Ruby lay in my arms after being gently guided across the Rainbow Bridge by her compassionate doctor. I let KC sniff Ruby’s body, and she looked up at me, silently communicating that she understood. If dogs could shed tears, she would have. I shed enough for us both.

A Life Full of Critters

I have always been a critter lover, and my husband shares that passion. From budgies to guinea pigs, cats to dogs, every animal we’ve ever had has been a cherished family member. We cannot imagine a life without animals.

KC Marie, Ruby Slippers, & Sarie Berrie

In 2007, shortly after our marriage, we became a blended family with three dogs: Sarie Berrie, Ruby Slippers, and KC Marie.

Sarie Berrie lived to 17.5 years, Ruby Slippers to 16, and KC to 16. We were privileged to care for them throughout their lives, including their final moments. Each time, euthanasia was a difficult but necessary decision—a deeply compassionate act made possible by the expertise of their veterinarians.

Resilience and the Gift of New Love

One of the greatest lessons dogs teach us is resilience. As we grieved the loss of each of our girls, we opened our hearts to new dogs. In the past couple of years, we’ve rescued two “little gangsters” who are now 2 and 3 years old. They lay beside me as I write this.

Every time we say goodbye to a beloved dog, my husband says, “She was One of the Good Ones.” To us, every dog is One of the Good Ones, and their memories remain forever etched in our hearts.

A Final Thought

If you have the means to provide quality veterinary care, nutritious food, training, exercise, and a heart overflowing with love, please consider rescuing a dog. Thousands of animals are waiting for loving, forever homes. If you’ve loved and lost a dog, allow yourself time to grieve—but don’t close yourself off to the love of another animal who needs you.

KC Marie, with her gentle ways and her bright spirit, taught me that every moment—whether lighthearted or deeply painful—is worth it.

Somewhere out there, One of the Good Ones may be waiting just for you.

Originally Published on https://akasha111blog.wordpress.com/

Paula Tozer Author

Paula D. Tozer is the author of three books - Saving Your Own Life: Learning to Live Like You Are Dying; An Elegant Mind's Handbook, and Enchanting Treve, a Novel. She is also an actor, singer/songwriter, Creativity Coach, competitive speaker, and leader with Toastmasters, as well as an avid cyclist, hiker, gym rat, and critter lover. The vast majority of her accomplishments have been achieved after the age of 50, demonstrating that It is never too late to be what you truly could have been...

Paula believes that living fiercely at any age is the way to optimize our time on this side of the grass. She has taken up the mission to inspire and motivate her contemporaries with what she has found that has allowed her to age with elegance, vitality, and most of all, good humor!