I am a strong believer in the power of writing to heal...To release the painful thoughts running on repeat in your head. To understand your feelings. To document the minutia of your memories before they slowly fade with time (and they will). To preserve the memories.
 
Be compassionate with yourself during the writing process. Understand that you may not yet be in a place to write, and that’s normal. Perhaps your loss is too raw. By forcing yourself to remember — to go there — you can risk re-traumatizing yourself.  We are individuals who uniquely process emotions.
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At first, you may only have the emotional capacity to jot down a few memories in short increments of time. When the memories feel too heavy, returning to your writing days or even months later is not only normal, but can be necessary. The style and timing of your writing doesn't matter - it is the act of writing that can heal...Journaling, writing a letter to your pet, composing an essay about your life together, scribbling random notes of memories beside photos in a scrapbook, scattered memories jotted on the back of a grocery list—anything and anywhere.
 
If writing is not your thing, artwork can also be healing - a scrapbook, photo album, collage, painting, working with clay...just to name a few.
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Below are some questions you may want to ask yourself when writing about your pet. Take what fits, leave the rest, and add whatever you need.
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When you're ready...
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How did you acquire your pet?
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What was your “Gotcha Day” like?
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How was the adjustment period? Did you experience any struggles in the beginning, or did your pet slide right into the fabric of your life?
 
What was going on in your life when your pet came into it?
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What are some of your earliest memories of your pet?
 
How would you describe your relationship? Was it love at first sight? Complicated? Challenging at first?
 
How did your relationship change over the years?
 
What life events did your pet witness? (marriage, divorce, kids, move, family death, etc).
 
What event(s) wouldn’t you have gotten through without your pet's support?
 
What lessons did your pet teach you?
 
What were some of your pet’s unique quirks?
 
Did your pet have a nickname?
 
What was your pet's favorite toy?
 
Did your pet snore?
 
What was your favorite activity to do together? (i.e., walks, hiking, trips to PetSmart, visiting family/friends, car rides, throwing sticks in the lake, etc.)
 
If your dog had doggie friends, what were some of those relationships like?
 
What was your pet’s favorite food?
 
Where did your pet sleep?
 
What were some of your pet’s special toys?
 
Do you have any regrets or wish for moments of “do-overs?”
 
What is your best memory? What is your worst?
 
What do you miss the most about your pet?
 
What caused your pet’s death?
 
How did you say goodbye?
 
How did losing your pet impact your life?
 
What do you do to keep your pet’s memory alive?
 
Please let me know if you have additional questions that may be helpful. 
lizweinerwrites@gmail.com