Thanks From Vitolo

I came to Second Life at the end of 2006, after 2 years of rehabilitation from the devastating effects of a prolonged coma. I was re-hospitalized in early 2007, and closed my SL account. After returning home in April of 2007, I reopened a new account.
The last 3 years have been amazing. In SL I have learned to function again, and this has spilled over into my real life.
I now owe the Universe a great debt for my fortunate circumstance of staying alive.
It is in SL that I repay the debt. SL has taught me much, and I have learned to create, build, and be a productive part of the lives and learning of other residents.
My goal has been and remains to be to use my land, and Virtual dogs, as a source of success for others. When residents come to my land I make sure that the place is set up, so that it becomes almost impossible not to have a fun interaction with the dogs or many other attractions I have built. A fun interaction leaves the door open for information to slip into ones mind, and anything learned makes the day a success.
I would like to say thanks to many people for believing in my dream.
◊ ~ My biggest inspiration has been the encouragement of my RL/SL wife Patty. She assists me with my in world goals, and gives me moral support when I have doubts.
I love Patty beyond anything I could ever explain.
It was not until after long rehab from the results of my coma that I met Patty. A driver for a city transportation service for the disabled, Patty picked me up one day from a trip to the public library. We fell in love fast. We have been together for over 3 years.
My sweet wife has watched over my shoulder, and through the screen of her own computer, as the adventures of sl have unfolded.
A word of caution to all. When a partner in a relationship is deeply involved in Second life, it can make our loved ones feel "left out". Patty has her own SL account, but she does not use SL in the same way that I do. We all must take precautions, that we do not leave our rl loved ones with less of our attention that they need, or one's SL will become a tender spot in any partnership.
◊ ~ I want to thank my good friends Driftwood Nomad, and Darrly Chang. These 2 guys are the originators of the 1st real SL Dog. D&D dogs allowed me to learn and grow.
My 2 good pals have shown great confidence, in allowing me to direct all of their in world services for them. In return, I recently Invited them to move D&D Dogs to Dogland in Rhoda ( my Dog Park), where they will remain supported by me, and never again pay tier. Read about D&D dogs at: http://www.sldogs.com/
◊ ~ The members of the group Survivors of TBI, have shown me great interest, and have supported their TBI center. They too have a permanent place in world, 3000 meters above Dogland Park.
◊ ~ I have learned much from VKC Dogs creator, Enrico Genosse. Once a good friend, he had me for almost 2 years, help him find the "bugs" in his dogs and system. This learning caused Dogland Park to be the most visited of any Dog park in the metaverse. The popularity of Dogland, and the support that it still gets, caused a rift in the association I had with Mr. Genosse. A gifted creator, he still is loved by me, even though I disagree with his ethics and practices.
I own 10 groups in world, that have loyally supported my goals.
◊ ~ I thank the 2000+ members of these groups with my heart full of love.
*Working Dog Handlers
*Survivors of TBI
*VKC Dog Owners Open Chat Group
*Dogland Training Group
*Harmonious Society of Peaceful Fist
*Karate-Do
*Dogland Kids
*Working Dog Handlers
*We Love Dogs
*SL Grid Marketing & Advertising
The group Survivors of TBI gives members access to group meetings, 24 hour help line, Skype conference, and group phone conference.
I also spread my word about Dogs, TBI, and SL on the web, on the following websites;
http://virtualdogtalk.yolasite.com/
http://petoftheday.com/talk/member.php?u=23955
http://www.avmsurvivors.org/
http://www.linkedin.com/profile?viewProfile=&key=47971562&trk=tab_pro
http://sldogfather.wordpress.com
The first of the links provided above, includes a 24 hour live chat line for talk, assistance, and service, as well as request forms for those who do not wish to interact in live chat.
http://virtualdogtalk.yolasite.com
◊ ~ I thank the members of the 7 off world (not in SL) Dogland Groups. The members of these groups have regular meetings online, as well as access to email communication, Skype calls, and group phone conference. These Can be found at:
Yahoo Groups - Dogland Dog Owners
ProfilesLive Groups - Dogland Dog Owners
FaceBook Groups - Dogland 's "FaceBook 2nd Life Group"
Facebook Fan Pages - Dogland Dog Park
WikiFoundry - The Dogfather
SLUniverse - Dogland Dog Owners
Avatars United - Dogland Dog Owners

Now let me not forget Linden Labs, and the group of Lindens that see that all is in order in world. They have provided us with a platform to live a second life. A good portion of SL residents are homebound for one reason or another. Physical, emotional, and other variable conditions, can have one staying at home. SL has freed us, and given us a world.
◊ ~ I thank Linden Labs for the world I now inhabit. I thank the governance team for not allowing land bullies to have their ways. They have taken care to investigate every difficulty, and have not yet failed to provide me, members of my groups, and those who are close to me with resolution of abuses and violations of TOS and Community Standards.
◊ ~ AND... If you took the time to read this, I thank you too! You have shown an interest in what is going on in the heart and mind of another.
If in any way I have inspired any soul to use SL as a tool to expand your lives, and feel success...
◊ ~ I Thank the Universe!

All the Thanks I need!

In the virtual world of Second Life, I was able to recreate my life and find new ways to help others after a prolonged coma.

I own Dogland, an independent Dog Park serving ALL makes of Virtual Dogs. I also own and maintain a group for others that are recovering from Brain Injury.
A friend and supporter of Dogland Park in Second Life made this gift for me.

VIEW THIS VIDEO

Dogland Park

RL Pet Memorial In A Virtual World

Any of us who has lost his beloved pet knows where I am coming from on this topic. It is devastating, and we never forget, or stop glancing down to see if our old friend is there.
When I came to SL I became a resident of the virtual world. Being homebound, I spend most of my days in world. I early on brought memories with me of things I loved, even though I have these photos here at home in RL. I put a picture of my RL Godmother up at the TBI center that I built for those recovering from Brain injury. The picture is to remind me always of an important person in my life. As a resident of SL, I pass her picture in the hallway of my virtual TBI center more often than I pass the photo at home in RL. Seeing her more often has brought me comfort.
I later put a photo on my SL desk, of my family pets, including the dogs gone by that I loved so well, and ached so deeply over. I found comfort here too, and decided that I should talk to others about the comfort I find in this practice. The response was very exciting, as friends began to upload pictures. Some photos of past pets went on Dogland's Bulletin Board.
I heard your call for a Pet Memorial that was without cost to use, so I added one to Dogland Park. The Memorial Wall is located near the duck pond close to the Dogland Little Theater. There is plenty of room for anyone to memorialize their friends that have passed. Send me a full perm picture of your pet, and write a notecard about them- say what is in your heart. Your pet will appear on the wall the very same day, and will remain there for you and for others to visit, when at Dogland. When your pet's picture is touched, your notecard will be delivered, so that your thoughts about your fuzzy friend can be appreciated by others. This memorial is for anyone who has lost their rl best friend.
http://slurl.com/secondlife/Rhoda/196/8/24

Fear Abatement Through Systematic Desensitization Using 2nd Life

In SL I own Dogland Dog Park, and I work with owners of Virtual Dogs. I just finished a project with a psychologist I have become associated with. The project was designed to systematically desensitize 13 subjects to their RL fear of dogs. All 13 became virtual dog owners, in SL. The project lasted 6 months, and had great success. out of the 13, 11 reported losing their fear of Canines. 7 out of the 13 became dog owners in real life. The project was so successful, I am being sent visitors with fear of dogs, by other professionals to work with.
I personally, have used this technique with myself and one friend. We both had a fear of heights. I can only speak for myself on my results. I am disabled, and walk with assistance, however after going through steps of higher and higher platforms, and allowing self to fall off these platforms, I found improvement in my fear. I was able to climb a ladder, and stand and walk on my roof, and work on my air conditioner.
Point here is, Virtual Worlds are well suited to use to eliminate some fears, through virtual exposure to same.
Come to SL if you wish to talk about this, and see me at Dogland Dog Park in Rhoda. While there visit the dogs used to assist in this project.

Virtual Dogs in 2nd Life & Our RL pets

In Second Life, I run a center for individuals with TBI(Traumatic Brain Injury). I also work with dogs. I have found that my friends with TBI benefit greatly from learning to work with these virtual pets. In my next article below I will talk about how sl in general helps individuals with TBI to function better in rl. In world(in 2nd Life), I solve problems and repair dogs for D&D dogs, and do demos for people with these excellent virtual pets. I work with VKC dogs also, and thier owners. I solve problems here, and also teach dog owners how to master the commands, as well as teach people to train thier dogs to do a variety of tasks and entertaining tricks. For those not in the mood to learn all of this, I actually train the dogs for them. I Own one of the most popular Dog Park in Second Life. Dogland Park in Rhoda.

In world, dogs are transferable. This means ownership can be given to another person. My mission is to convince business people in 2nd Life to begin making all toys & supplies for virtual dogs transferable (as are the dogs!). To this end, I make an entire line of toys and dog beds... all transferable, and all free. There is an entire line of custom doghouses also I sell for the currency of 2nd life (50 Lindens= approx. 20 cents U.S. currency), or for those who dont have the funds, the doghouse is free.
Working with Virtual dogs gives a trainer in rl(real life) a special insight into the pure logic under which dogs function. Working with our pets in rl, gives us a special feeling for the virtual dogs.
The Virtual dogs are such great fun to function with, and provide great entertainment and actually are useful in the virtual world... just as service dogs and protection dogs are in the real world.
I hope that when you are in 2nd Life, you will look me up, and see all of the things a virtual dog can do. Your real life pets will benefit from this as also will yourselves! And for those of you with no rl dog, owning a virtual dog is the next best thing. Trust me we all get very attached to our virtual pets and enjoy them immensly!~ Vitolo Rossini

Why a Virtual World?

Born in 1951, after a lifetime as a martial artist, and dog trainer, I was run over by a truck(Feb., 2004). Every bone on the left side of my body was shattered, as I was flung into a 5 1/2 week Coma. I learned to walk again, and speak. I came to sl to learn to function, and got better and better...and started an sl group for Vicims of TBI. My dream has come true..I run a Dojo in sl, and train virtual dogs for two companies. I also own the largest and most popular dog park in sl. Anything I earn goes to our group, Survivors of TBI, which is now a great success! We have a gorgeous Facility, and rl physician studying neurogenesis on staff as well as an rl RT, as our consultant. We even have a group Rehab Therapist. There are supporters and many TBI survivors. Sl has been good to all of us. I have come up with a remarkable theory... as I talk to fellow TBI survivors in our group. We are able to learn and find things theraputic with tolerance...as we are already used to rl "lag".(Which by the way is comparable to sl "lag"). In addition, we are all too familiar with "crashing" unexpectedly.(Which incidentally is very like rl "crash" from overload..Cognitive Fatigue.) Sl is excellent therapy. One can "virtually" experience anything, as all is possible in world. But... rl's complications are replaced by a separate set of complications ( technical) in sl. so if a TBI Survivor( or anyone)fails at an sl endeavor...failure begets failure. Success, on the other hand begets success. It is a TBI Supporter and Surviors role,to help mentor and guide other survivors to find areas of sl to thrive in.Help others discover "thier sl".Once one finds thier sl, because it is "thier niche"..they will find joy, andthereby be successful.Success at endeavors in sl builds confidence, and self assuredness. This will carry over into inner strength in rl endeavors. I would love to have your feedback on this . Or come to our TBI Center when you're in world. See you there! See Also: http://vitolo.wordpress.com/ 

Success Begets Success

After a prolonged coma, and years of rehabilitation, I came to Second Life, to look into a possible "window to the world". I was disabled, and had a poor self image, after a lifetime career in Martial Arts and Dog Training. I learned something in Second Life, that I will share. I now can boast a successful and confident real life.

I help People in SL to learn a lesson about what success is, with Virtual Dogs. I own the most popular dog park in the virtual world, Dogland Park in Rhoda. At the VKC Dog Park at Rhoda, I use the dogs as a magician uses smoke and mirrors, to focus residents attention, and build an interest in working with the dogs.

If a resident of SL engages in activities that are not fulfilling, this leaves them empty inside. An example; You get talked into going to a club. Friends dance, lag is bad, you can not focus camera on anyone. You try to turn and crash repeatedly. You try to chat with others, but there is spam on screen, and chat lag. You log off and go to bed.

Your subconscious is working now, and your dreams have been affected. The dreams are ones of frustration, and of incompletion. You awaken a bit tired and restless. When it is time to log into SL, you have butterflies in stomach, because you did not have a great success the last time you were in world. You are hoping SL will be fun today.

The other side of the coin.

You come to SL, and find something that you have an interest in. Dogs are fun, and this was my choice. At Dogland we have so many activities that involve the residents and their dogs. You come in interested, perhaps because the dogs are so very realistic... and you like dogs anyway.

While focused on the dogs, you are learning. We train your dog for you, and then work with you for as long as you feel great about coming to learn. You learn how to control the dogs, and to teach it, and this feels good! No matter who else rains on your parade , no body can take back the successful interaction you had with your dog.

NOW--->

You go to sleep. Your subconscious is unwrapping events of the day. Whether you realize it or not, you are dreaming. These dreams are different. They are dreams of "completion". Dreams that reflect that you were successful in your SL dog work! You awaken feeling good, in fact you are anxious to get in world and feel that exhilarating feeling again.

Repeated experiences that make you wake up happy, and that give you a good feeling about what you have done, make you feel good about life and about yourself.

Feeling good about yourself carries into your daily activities in life, and facing daily living feeling good about yourself is called confidence.

Confidence is what gives us the courage to accept challenges. Fears will not restrict your life if there is a reason to feel confident.

Second Life is easy to download, and here is the part where I encourage each and every one of you to give it a chance. Come and visit SL, and then look me up. You will find me at Dogland Park in Rhoda Let me then give you a demonstration of how the dogs work. The dogs are the only true example of actual Artificial Intelligence in world. It costs nothing to come to my dog park and learn ( there are regular classes open to all as well). At Dogland Park you can come every day and command and play with the many dogs around the park, and it costs nothing. Many choose to purchase their own dogs, but you can get the feeling of success from working with these marvelous dogs free of any cost.

Come and visit my dog park, and watch the dogs play and I promise you will have fun!