Reflecting on Lessons Learned and Sweet Spots of Love with Dogs

Reflecting on Lessons Learned and Sweet Spots of Love with Dogs
Gidget ready for belly rubs

My favorite time of the day is one-on-one time with Miss Gidget which happens most days shortly after she eats dinner at 4pm.

Yesterday as she lay on her back on the sofa and I gave her belly rubs, as often happens, I felt a huge wave of love wash over my heart.

It’s one of the best feelings in the world.

And I thought about how rough the road was when I first got her two and a half years ago trying to understand some misinformation I was given that she was in need of a pacemaker.

After a visit to the UW of Madison Vet teaching school and an expensive bill I was relieved to find out her heart was perfectly fine.

And just when life seemed to settle into place her seizures began. That was definitely a test of my will and understanding. I honestly thought I’d lose it during that year of trying to figure out why she was having them, and how to best help her.

We are approaching 150 days of no seizures and play time yesterday with her had me thinking about what is sometimes called the “sweet spot” in life.  Those stretches of time when life feels incredibly good and you hope it will last forever.

While dogs don’t typically know when they are seizing, and it is harder on the people in their lives, I certainly hope she never has another one.

But as hard as it was, I learned a lot from the experience. It was a time of standing more into the truth of things that I believe in regarding holistic care and speaking up for what I felt was best for her.

It was also a time that I believe Gidget was a reflection for me. She had me looking at a part of my soul that I’d been trying to push away for a very long time.

The sweet moments with Gidget have me reflecting on how precious these times with her truly are when all is well– and how they become so much more dear because of the tough times.

A reminder to take nothing or any day for granted. To live even more in awareness of how little time we really do have here.

Each and every dog in my life have brought gifts I don’t believe I would have experienced otherwise. And it continues to inspire me that I learn so much about life through the eyes of my dogs. Their lessons somehow find a way into my heart that stick and change me for the better.

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