Healing with My Dogs: A Year of Love, Loss, and Unconditional Support
Sep 26, 2024
The past year has been tough. I’ve faced challenges I never expected, and through it all, my dogs—Penny, Yogi, and Daisy—have been my companions, my comfort, and, in many ways, my healers. There’s a kind of healing that comes from being around animals, especially dogs. They don’t ask for much—just your presence. And in return, they give you love, loyalty, and a sense of peace that’s hard to find anywhere else.
Dogs as Emotional Anchors
Over the past year, there were times when I felt like I was drowning in my emotions. Grief, loss, uncertainty—those feelings can pull you under if you let them. But Penny, Yogi, and Daisy have been my emotional anchors. On the hardest days, they would curl up next to me, pressing their warm bodies against mine, and in that simple act, they reminded me that I wasn’t alone. There’s something so powerful about the way dogs can sense when you need them, even when you don’t say a word.
Each of them has their own way of showing love. Penny with her quiet presence, always watching, always near. Yogi with his playful energy, pulling me out of my own head and into the moment. And Daisy, with her soft, calming nature, who seems to know exactly when I need to just sit and breathe. Together, they’ve given me the kind of support that words can’t.
The Healing Power of Routine
One of the things that has been most helpful over the past year is the routine that comes with having dogs. No matter how hard things got, I knew that I had to get up every morning and take care of them. That routine—feeding them, walking them, playing with them—became a kind of therapy for me. It gave me structure on days when I felt lost and purpose when I needed it most.
There’s something grounding about having responsibilities that take you outside of yourself. When you’re caring for dogs, you have to be present. You can’t let your mind wander too far into the past or future. You have to be in the moment, because they are. They don’t worry about what’s next—they just live in the now. And in being with them, I learned to do the same.
Unconditional Love as Healing
The unconditional love that dogs offer is unlike anything else. They don’t care if you’re having a bad day or if you’re struggling—they just want to be near you. And in that simple, pure connection, there’s so much healing. Over the past year, I’ve come to rely on that love more than I ever expected. It’s been a constant reminder that I’m loved, no matter what I’m going through.
My dogs have seen me at my worst, and they’ve loved me through it. They don’t ask for explanations or solutions—they just offer their presence. And in a year that has been filled with so much uncertainty, that kind of love has been a lifeline.
Still Healing, But Not Alone
I’m still on this journey of healing, and I know I have a long way to go. But I also know that I’m not doing it alone. Penny, Yogi, and Daisy have been by my side every step of the way, and they’ll continue to be there, offering their love and support, as I continue to heal.
This past year has taught me so much about resilience, about the power of routine, and about the healing that comes from the simple presence of an animal. My dogs have given me the strength to keep going, even when things felt impossible. And for that, I’m forever grateful.
Every day, they remind me that healing isn’t about getting back to who I was—it’s about moving forward, with love, patience, and the knowledge that I’m never truly alone.
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