I’ve spent a lot of time the past few weeks thinking about gratitude, and what it means to me. I was worried that this, the first holiday season without the person who defines it for me, would be horrible and that I would have no interest in celebrating anything. Which is a valid response for sure, but I was hoping I could dredge up enough energy to participate for my kids’ sake.
And then a funny thing happened. I totally was into the whole gratitude thing.
Although my life has had its ups and downs, I would say I’ve been pretty darn lucky, and I’m the first to admit that. This is the first year I’ve had what I consider a truly devastating event, and even that- well, this is part of the human condition. Love and loss, one of the great lessons we learn as humans, one of the great moments for which pets prepare us.
I am grateful for that. I am grateful that my work prepared me for life to the point which I could address loss head on. Sorrow? Yes. Regret? Nope.
I never could have imagined when I started this little blog so many years ago that the people who would show up have turned out to be the most amazing group I have ever met. You have supported me through low points and high (many of which you never even heard about, but trust me, they were there), given me love and encouraged me to fulfill a lifelong dream, allowed me to walk into that bookstore and see my name on a shelf.
I am grateful for readers who, despite a world full of cynics and narcissists, recognize that we are all on the same side. Even when we don’t always agree on the finer points, we all know that hey, we all love animals and do our best in the best way we know how.
Do you realize how amazing that is? How many people spend their lives in anger, drumming up fury over things just because they need something to fill their lives?
We don’t need to do that, because we have all we need. And that frees us up to experience life in all its beauty, pain, and love. Your support and encouragement has in turn given me even more compassion for the people I meet every day, and that is such a gift.
This is the lesson our pets give us every day, and we carry it with us out of our homes and into our interactions with everyone around us.
It is a beautiful thing.
And I am thankful.
this was so beautiful I have tears in my eyes. We are thankful for YOU and all that we learn from you. Your ears had to be burning Friday. I had to take Cody to the Vet and I was telling him all about you and your book. I am going to let him read mine soon, he will love it! xoxo DakotasDen
Thank you Caren! I am always so grateful for all that you do- you are such a wonderful, supportive person in our community!
Wonderful post. Thank you!
Thank you!!
I’m grateful to have met you and your beautiful family! You inspire at every turn. Mwah
*mwah* right back atcha!
Dear Dr. V. I have enjoyed your blog with your ups and downs for yrs now…and your spirit through it all is inspiring. As a dog lover and Vet tech I understand your passion with the animals and the everyday situations that you experience with the owners. I have learned a lot from you and I thank you for that. As a Mom myself, I think you are doing a terrific job as a Mom. Raising your child with animals is a gift you give to them and having a good dog around to help raise them properly is a blessing. As a daughter who has not yet lost her own Mom…my heart broke with you as I read your blogging about your Mom and her final days. Today as I read this latest blog about the holidays without your inspiratin I felt the need to write you. Moms are our rock. They are the ones that make the holidays so special with all their efforts and love. My Grandmaa was like that, and after she was gone I saw my own Mom kick in even more energetically as if doing the job of two. I think that the passion and love of the holodays is passed down from generation to generation…and now it is your turn to shine, really shine. Your Mom is there, in your memories of how to make it special as she did. Her recipes, the special ways that she would decorate the house and the little things that she did to make it special. You will remeber those things and carry them on. And she will be so proud to watch from above… she and your sweet Emmett.
You brought so many tears to my eyes. Thank you!!
I always love reading your posts, especially the ones when you so eloquently explain how we are really on the same team. 🙂
Also, you have probably already read this book, but I’m mentioning it because I’m reading it now and it’s one that is really sticking with me – A Dog’s Purpose by W. Bruce Cameron. I thought you might enjoy it.
You know, I haven’t read it yet! I tried to avoid reading any dog books while I was writing mine because I didn’t want to be unduly influenced by someone else’s style or tone, but now I think I’m ready to enjoy it!
So I don’t subscribe to many blogs in fact only yours! You have such a sincere honesty and real ness that you call to my heart. The things you have written about that were the hardest for you to go through were the things I needed to know someone else was dealing with too! Merry Christmas and god bless us one and all!
The same to you Deborah! Thank you so much!
and I am thankful that I stumbled across your blog through The 7MSN site so many years ago and am thankful you have chosen your amazing ability to write to put words to what so many of us feel and for sharing your ups and downs with us so we can not feel like we are alone (and for the unspoken forgiveness given to blog commenters who use a ridiculously long run on sentence 🙂 )
Oh, you made my day. Thank you!