Can we?
My four-year-old dog, Bella was starting to lose her hair, become lethargic and gain weight. After trying a multitude of natural remedies, I bit the bullet and put her on thyroid meds.
The result was miraculous.
She’s lost weight, has a shiny coat and as she runs laps around my yard with her stuffed elephant in her mouth this morning before 8 a.m., I realize the clock has been turned back before my eyes.
She’s displaying puppy behavior that I haven’t seen in two years. I look at her with a smile and she immediately gets in that “downward dog” yoga position ready to play.
She is running laps around me as we hike and she launches herself into the creek behind my house without inhibitions.
The absolute miracle of seeing that puppy face and behavior, now that the extra weight is gone and her thyroid functioning, is breath taking.
This makes me wonder about my own life. Will there be a day that I wish my chin was broken out instead of wrinkled? Will I miss the cramps that come once a month as I no longer have to worry about that cursed cycle? Will I cherish the ups and downs I thought were stresses but were actually my life?
And then my thoughts turn to friends…. The busy, stressed and harried mothers that have young children. The single ones that long to be married. And the ones hating their lives right now wishing for change.
I wonder if we could turn the clocks up four years and stand there in the future looking back at today, what would we miss? What did we take for granted? What did we think was a problem that in retrospect should have been enjoyed?
In the time it took me to write this, sweet Bella has dropped two balls in my lap, brought me my sparkle flip flops (well, one that is slightly wet with saliva!) and is staring at me with that red headed puppy face I haven’t seen in two years.
I think this morning when I look in the mirror, I will fast forward two years and remember that in that future spot, some part of me will be wishing for the girl in the mirror today.
xo
Bella is so sweet. Believe me, I have 2 boys ages 16 and 20. When my oldest was a senior in high school I lost it. I reminiced about all of the things I did with him when he was little and I worried about all of the things I didn't do, or did wrong. I was a very difficult time for me. I have recovered but I do really miss being the Mom that I was when they were little. The cuddling, reading books together, and really being needed. That's all gone and I am truly stuck wondering what is next for me. Scarey place but I am searching for the next "me". My observation is that we need to be present where we are, take it all in, savor it, for in too short a time it will change and you sort of have to start over. So glad you have Bella to love.
Thank you Di. It's a beautiful observation. Your boys have a wonderful mom. Bella is my red headed, 4 legged, problem child that i love with all of my heart!