The Paws To Freedom Story
By Mara Windstar, CDBC-SAC
Paws to Freedom Founder, Director and Trainer

There are times in life when we are all called to "pause". This 'pause' may be a conscious decision or for some it may be a choice that is made not so purposefully. The reason, I believe, is not all so important. What IS important is how we decide to live with the ‘pause’. This pause may call us to slow down our pace in life; it may call us to move differently by our choices or even by something so physical as our mode of transportation.

The true "gift of the Pause" is to find some kind of peace in stillness, in slowness, in different-ness. This gift of the Pause can be a gift to Freedom.

I admit to the challenge of being slow to find the "gift of my Pause" in life. The challenge has felt very limiting. That is until my pause was multiplied into PAWS - My four Paws to Freedom. Yes, a service dog brought me physically into the newfound Freedom I had so missed. However, I do find that one of the greatest gifts that the training process and the care and responsibility of Freely are the "gift of the Pause" which she gives me every day. To 'pause' and to 'choose' Freedom!

For some people success means having and doing everything on one's own. For me success means finding the hope to attempt to try new things and to find creative ways to achieve those things which are my daily challenges.

It is with Freely, my Paws To Freedom that I've learned to become resourceful enough to live a successful life!

I commit to assisting others in embracing their life’s pause, and finding the Paws To Freedom that may assist them in living more freely.

And the rest of the story is being written every day with every team.

“Yesterday I went shopping for the first time by myself (with my dog) in
many years!” she rejoiced.

“I did it! I can’t believe I did it!” she said during a training session.

“Wow! He should get the Most Improved for his training!” said one team of another.

“I’m not sure what it is, because he’s still in training, but I already am doing so much more!”

“He’s the best! He’s the best partner, the best dog! Life is so much better!”

“I’m so much free-er to be myself now.”

“My son did this great thing the other day, and he did it himself with (his dog)! This is so awesome!” said one mother.

It was her first session and she entered with her shoulders rounded and looking at the floor, attached to a leash with a dog on the other end. Her voice stuttered a little as she sat down. We just sat getting to know one another while she sat stroking her dog. I noticed her looking at the clock. I knew that if we could start to train one thing, just one small thing, that her eyes would divert from the clock.

Her dog stopped, glanced up into her face, the “click” rang out and she delivered a treat as she gasped and laughed. “It Works!!” she shouted.
It’s been months and the round shoulders have not returned, at least not on training days. Her dog springs to attention at her very move.

……
The story continues and the story repeats. Each story is unique, and the confidence, freedom and joy starts to come back to us all. Sure it’s frustrating training sometimes and somehow, because there is support, we all make it through. Yes, I said “all”.

Sometimes the day-to-day work of the non-profit and keeping all of the things moving forward is so draining….

And then there is a team training session and I “pause” once again and have enough freedom at this point to be gifted with the opportunity to share in the experiences of each of these peoples’ journey with their ‘pause’. It brings back the smile of my passion, to know that together we’re training more wonderful canines into their role of Paws to Freedom. There is truly nothing like being in a Peaceable Partnership with a canine partner, both species enjoying life’s ‘paws’.

…and the rest of the story will continue to be written every day with every team….

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