Dear
Cesar,
Dogs helped me heal through the worst devastation of my life.
Just before midnight on New Year's Eve, 2004, I lost my beautiful Mom, 6 months
after donating half of my liver to her. Because I was blessed to be walking
dogs while she was ill, while I recovered from surgery and after she passed, I
was able to grieve constructively, and brave indescribable pain in momentous
ways. Moving with dogs across wild landscapes - playing freely,
breathing deeply, sensing consciously - I turned absolute anguish into riches
of spiritual currency. I will spend what I’ve earned paying forward the gift of
healing.
As a Millan Foundation Ambassador, I currently volunteer
at the Hawaii Island Humane Society. Hawaii, while Paradise by most accounts,
is sadly decades behind where animal welfare is concerned. Dog fighting only
became a felony here as recently as three years ago. And attending dogfights
remains legal to this day. Disconnect from primal beings contradicts the Aloha
Spirit that defines these Islands. Therefore, I feel I am to utilize the
healing power of this sacred place to progress the plight of its animals. I photograph the dogs at the HIHS as
they run outside, in hopes that their adoptable
dog profile photos reflect their precious, free spirits. My ultimate goal
is to spearhead treadmill programs in shelters. This being part of a greater
mission: to transform the perception
of shelters-as-death-row-sentences, into the reality of
shelters-as-fitness-rehabilitation-and-healing centers.
The Whisperer Within me has yet to surpass a few relentless
limitations. But my divine instruction (as
seen in my ever-evolving dog walking business, Frisky Fitness) is to help people lead happier, healthier
and more active lifestyles, using the practice of being their dogs’ “Pack Leader” as a functional tool for personal success.
I need your guidance, Cesar. I want nothing more than to excel at this
discipline, in order to serve both
people and dogs. But to most effectively fulfill my purpose, I need a superior confidence
one can only gain by training with a master. No class or preordained
certification can offer the kind of counsel I seek. What I need is a spiritual
teacher whose particular enlightenment reflects the ultimate goals of my higher
Self. Like The Karate Kid needed Mr. Miyagi, whose influence commanded
the breakthrough of (Daniel’s) ultimate potential, Cesar…I need you.
Should you embrace the idea of having a Whisperer's
Apprentice, I promise you my energetic wealth in return: The full attention
of my eager mind; the open channel that is my heart; the life-defining passion
that courses through my lungs; and all the strength and endurance built into my
animal body. Though petite in stature, standing 4'11" and weighing 101
pounds, my resolve to impact the world at its primal emotional core is no small
force. Every labored breath of my life's treacherous, wondrous climb has led to
this moment, when the most empowering challenge I can imagine would be to keep
up with a pack like yours.
They say, "When the student is ready, the teacher will
appear". I pray that, as I envision you a professor of my soul’s
graduate education, so shall you manifest.
Standing on the shoulders of giants,
Liz Rose Kover
www.friskyfitness.net
Over the last couple of weeks, I had the privilege of hanging out at our friends' house, while they were off-island and Keely was house sitting. The place is incredible, complete with a jacuzzi nestled into lush beds of tropical foliage, next to a lava tube with a waterfall. The dogs had a blast exploring and playing in the huge yard, with all of its little trails, gardens and water features. Besides that, I worked with both Ginger and Ripley on their leashes. Walking them both on leashes at once was a first. Ripley still does great with the Gentle Leader, (unless there are turkeys crossing the road in front of us); with Ginger, I tried out the Halty harness. It worked okay, but what I really want to try using with her is Cesar Millan's Illusion collar. Anyway, we worked hard, descending and ascending the neighborhood's grand hill. We were certainly spoiled to have this luxurious place to play...but I made sure we earned our time in the hot tub :)
