Living More Than One Life: Why Dog Groomers Deserve More Than Just Work

I read something recently that stopped me in my tracks.

Not because it was loud or flashy, but because it asked a quiet, powerful question:

What if your life wasn’t meant to be one straight line… but many small, beautiful lives, lived side by side?

And something inside me whispered, yes.

Because as much as I love my work, and I truly do, I realised how easy it is to become beautifully, passionately… completely absorbed by it. And how quickly life can pass us by.

The same routines.

The same days.

And yet, somewhere deeper, our souls are quietly asking for something more.

Something different. Not a new profession, maybe just a new rhythm.

Not more work.

But more life.

More curiosity.

More colour.

More learning, not for pressure, but simply for expansion.

And this isn’t just poetic, it’s healthy. Learning new things supports brain health, emotional resilience, builds confidence, expands our social circles, and keeps us mentally flexible as we age.

So this year, I’m doing something that feels simple, but quietly powerful.

I’m committing to giving myself at least one full day, or even half a day, every single month dedicated purely to learning something new.

Not because I have to. But because my curiosity, my soul and my joy deserve it.

Adding to life — not distracting from it.

And February is where it begins for me.

February, Starting Close to Home

I’m kicking this off close to home, so to speak, through Groomer Nation, with something that has gently lived in my heart for a long time.

Animal Communication.

This February I’m stepping into a live, beginner-friendly learning experience that explores connecting more deeply with animals in a calm, grounded and respectful way with legendary International psychic and animal communicator Randi Sands.

It feels like the perfect first chapter.

Not loud.

Not rushed.

Just meaningful, soul-filling and exciting, personal growth for groomers.

March is where I start to get my hands dirty.

I’ve decided I’m doing a pottery class. And before you picture anything graceful or artistic, please know that I am the least coordinated, least delicate, least “fine motor skill” person you’ll ever meet. So I fully expect my creations to look nothing like the scene in Ghost and everything like something a five-year-old proudly brings home from kindy.

But that’s kind of the point.

It’s not about being good at something. It’s about trying something that’s completely different to your normal world. It’s about waking up parts of your brain that don’t get much airtime anymore. It’s about laughing at yourself, getting messy, and doing something just because it’s new.

April is all about chocolate.

And yes, I’ll definitely be eating plenty of it but I’m also learning in a class that teaches you how to actually make your own Easter eggs using moulds. They may not be the super fancy, show-stopper ones, just real, handmade eggs, made by me.

This year, every Easter egg I give my friends and family will be one I’ve made myself.

Not from Cadbury.

Not from Darrell Lea.

From me.

And I love that idea more than I can explain.

May is where things turn a little earthy.

I’ve found a two-day, hands-on course that teaches the foundations of Australian bush flower essences,learning about the plants, their emotional healing properties, and how they’ve been used to support emotional wellbeing in very gentle, natural ways.

June is where I lean into something a little unexpected.

Ill be learning something new with the Australian Certified Cat Grooming course.I haven’t groomed cats in over 30 years but there’s something exciting about returning to something once familiar, and learning it again with fresh eyes and up to date teachings.

Not because I need to.But because curiosity has a funny way of tapping us on the shoulder.

And this feels like one of those taps.

And honestly, this is only the beginning.

There are so many other things I already have on my quiet little “me day” list.

Maybe candle making.

Maybe learning how to make sourdough properly.

Maybe photography.

Maybe massage.

Maybe floristry.

Maybe herbalism.

Maybe kinesiology

Maybe finally doing that course that’s been sitting in my bookmarks for two years. Maybe even a trip to a different country to learn how to make pasta from Italian nonnas, blend perfume in France, learn herbal apothecary traditions in the Scottish Highlands, learn cacao chocolate making in Mexico, or sit in a quiet tea room in Japan learning the art of presence.

I don’t want this to be a year that just passes.

I want it to be a year that expands me.

And I know I’m not the only one who feels this.

So many groomers, especially those in rural and regional areas, don’t always have easy access to face-to-face learning. Distance, time, travel costs and life itself can quietly make learning feel out of reach.

But so much of the basics of what we can learn now is right at our fingertips, in warm, connected, well-supported online spaces that still feel personal and real.

Through Groomer Nation, we see this every day.

People learning to become certified cat groomers, understanding how to hand strip a Miniature Schnauzer to show standard, learning the importance of skin and coat care, and now even deeper intuitive skills through animal communication — all from their own homes, in ways that fit real life. Online learning for groomers

If you gave yourself even half a day a month, what would you choose to explore?

Because you’re not here to live one narrow version of yourself.

You’re here to keep growing, exploring, widening your horizons, and giving yourself permission to keep growing in ways that feel joyful, nourishing and filling your cup.

And if this year you feel even a tiny pull to try something new,

I hope you listen to it.

From my heart to yours,

Vanessa Parsons xoxo