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Gloria Lybecker posted an update
Slow everything down...
A few summers ago at the Sanctuary, I was squatting down beside my baby granddaughter, introducing her to one of my favorite residents… my cat “Bella”.
There was nothing big or dramatic about the moment—just warm sun, a little garden path, and Bella strolling up like she was doing “her” daily rounds. My granddaughter watched her with that wide-eyed toddler wonder… the kind that says, “What is this magical creature?”
So I slowed everything down.
I pointed. I whispered. I showed her how to be gentle.
And then Bella—being Bella—leaned in just enough to say, “Okay… I approve.”I love moments like this because they’re quietly teaching something deeper than “pet the kitty.”
They’re teaching:
Move slowly.
Pay attention.
Let trust be built, not forced.
Notice what your body is telling you.And honestly… that’s self-love too.
Self-love isn’t always bubble baths and affirmations.
Sometimes it’s choosing presence. Choosing softness. Choosing to meet life at the pace of a child… and the boundaries of a cat.This little girl may not remember the details of this day, but her nervous system is learning something important at the Sanctuary:
Love can be gentle. Love can be safe.
2 Comments-
Thank you so much for another heartwarming post, Gloria!🙏
I have a beloved family member who is autistic and could benefit greatly from equine therapy and nervous system regulation.
May I ask if you hold retreats and, if so, where is your Sanctuary? How many horses do you have there?
Thank you, Gloria!❤️🐴🐴
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@Tori Hi Victoria, thank you so much. 💛🙏 Yes—I do hold retreats at Healing You Sanctuary just outside Spokane, WA, and the horses are beautiful co-regulators for nervous system support. I currently have 5 horses here.
Feel free to message me or email me at gloria@glorialybecker.com and I’ll happily share more details and help you explore what might be the best fit for your family member. 💛
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