I have shared parts of this story with a wide audience and find myself questioned frequently about the weight of the role that Sophie played in this journey. Some people find it troublesome that a dog had such an impact on my life course rather than people. They have percieved, mistakenly, that I do not have good human relationships in my life and, therefore, needed to turn to a dog instead. I have also struggled, sometimes, to explain exactly how Sophie enabled me to see more clearly...how she showed me a path that fit with my true self. And I realized my struggle to explain stems from one simple fact: I don't know how she did it. But she did.
So as I was writing my post about our journey...and re-writing to try and explain it better....and re-writing to try and show those in doubt that I do not believe dog love replaces human love....I decided to just stop. Why does it need to be explained? I've tossed away my hours of analysis and decided to rely on my instinct (another lesson from Sophie) and summed it up to this: magic.
Not the kind of magic that makes rabbits disappear in hats or that levitates objects or that foresees the future. It was the kind of magic that happens around us everyday if we look hard enough for it: in a stranger's random act of kindness, in baby girl's wide eyes as she catches her first glimpse of the world around her, in the love of a good dog. It's the kind of magic that fills up your heart and that opens your eyes to what is good, to what is possible in this life. We shouldn't question ourselves or each other on where we find it.....whether it's in our children, in our travels to different countries, in our cameras, in our writing, in our churches or even in our dogs...we should just recognize it for the gift that it is and grab onto it with all our might.
Sophie brought that magic into my life at a time when I needed it most. So the story that I am going to post this week about our journey over the last year will not be about how and why....it will just be about us. About us...and the magic.
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28 comments:
One word: Perfect!
"Why does it need to be explained?"
It doesn't. If it has to be explained, it hasn't been felt and if it hasn't been felt there is no knowing it.
It is magic. Missed you. Hope you had a great time.
To a sucessful journey in the current year.
I understand and believe in the magic.
From one dog mom to another.
Give Sophie an extra big hug tonight!
Staci
Very beautiful post. I love the idea of knowing what the right path for your true self. How do you find that out?
well said and i wish you well now and always....
i've learnt not to question anymore and just be thankful and appreciative that i've been fortunate enough to be able to "experience".....
warm regards,
coco's mum, lilian
Glad to have you back, looking forward to more posts from you.
Jen
Very well said...it is magic.
Another dog mom and grateful for his light in my life, Gayle
This magic that you talk about is the perfect kind of magic. Never a need for an explanation, it just is!
I agree. There is no explaining the magic Emma Rose has brought into my life -it just IS.
Welcome home Andrea and Sophie. We missed you.
The Duchess
You're so incredibly right about the magic. There's a Dad Fogelberg song which says "There's magic every moment." I'd say that you and Sophie are living proof of that.
That is exactly as it should be. Often when people who don't understand the bond between a human and a dog hear about the deep love a human has for his or her canine companion they think that there is something wrong. They think that a deep bond can only be found by like species. Not so. Not so at all. My deepest bonds have been with my animals. The unlimited amount of courage and optimism and delight in life that they show to me everyday coupled with their unending unconditional love cannot be matched - by anyone with or without opposable thumbs.
We have missed you Andrea! Glad to see your post tonight and I agree that from whatever/whomever our inspiration/encouragement/understaning come from is MAGIC!
This is why some blogs do not accept comments. You keep telling YOUR story the way you perceive your story & don't worry about those who don't get it. I get it and I am sure there are many others who get it. I am so glad that Sophie helped you find the magic in life. Sometimes watching a small child or even an animal, you realize that you are not seeing all there is to see, you are not loving all there is to love, and you are not feeling all there is to feel. Thanks for continuing to share your journey with us.
Go girl, good for you! It will all be majic coming from you :)
MY HUSBAND AND I BOTH ENJOYED READING THIS POST LAST NIGHT. I AWOKE FROM A DEEP SLEEP TO A CRYING KITTEN AT 12:30 THIS MORNING. YOUR POST WAS THE INSPIRATION FOR OUR PET'S NEW NAME! AS YOU PROBABLY REMEMBER, NALLEY IS DISABLED AND WE STAY AT HOME EACH/EVERY DAY. ALSO, THE ONE YEAR ANNIV. OF MY MOTHER PASSING AWAY IS COMING UP IN A FEW WEEKS. WE FEEL THAT THE LOVE AND ADORATION OF THIS ABANDONED PET IS MAGIC! see my post this evening to read all about it and thanks for this heart-warming post of yours.
You can never explain the magic Andrea.. no need to either..some will never get it..until they make a connection with a dog or a cat ..but there are many of us that understand and applaud Sophie! Oh and You too Andrea..the story teller! :)
I commend you for remaining true to yourself, to Sophie, and to the sacred relationship you share, for refusing to attempt to explain the unexplainable or bowing to the needs of others to 'understand' something that defies logic.
I would suggest another word as well. Love. For surely that is what breathes life into the magic and how it has manifested in that warm, furry body we all know as Sophie.
I have had only three soul mates in my life and they have all been animals.
Blessings, my friend.
Carolynn
oh andrea i love this post! you're so right; it doesn't need to be explained. the people who are going to understand it will understand it with no other explanation because they have felt the same way about a dog at one time or another in their own lives. looking forward to reading the whole story.
My Abby-girl had a seizure today -- a bad one, lasted 15 minutes. I really needed to come visit someone who'd understand how terrifying and terrible that is.
Thanks for being here!
Good for you.
It's not for others to understand, it is what makes sense to YOU. I believe in magic; that doesn't mean that I value human relationships any less (or more) than my animal relationships. ALL relationships serve many purposes. It's all about what works and makes sense to YOU. I can hardly wait to read more... :-)
Dear Girl....never stop speaking from your heart and your instinct. There will always be detractors who need to spend more time fixing others than they do fixing themselves. And they are almost invariably the ones that need the most work.
Your voice is beautiful and true and your experience needs no apology. God has given us our animal companions for a reason. I'm not going to question HIM! And with your beautiful spirit, I don't know how anyone in their right mind could question your lovely way of touching the hearts of other HUMANS!! (Hey Sophie, Minky says hello and wants to tell you some long-legged boy came calling the other day and her mom had to take him back to his owner. She says she almost had her first date! Drats!)
I feel sad for anyone who has never known dog magic.
So happy for you.... and Sophie.
I've never been the owner of a dog, but I think I understand you.
Often, I wish I had a little dog to love but with MS I'm afraid I might not be able to give it enough exercise.
I feel happy for you and Sophie too.
As a lover of all creatures, great and small, I say here here for listening to the voice and love in your heart.
For me, my animal companions connect me with nature. They remind me to live in the moment and cherish every moment with those I love; human, canine and feline. There is such beauty in simple things.
AHHHHHHHH!!! Those who have not experienced the magic need an explanation. But for those of us who have been touched and believe...words are not needed. So glad you are back!!!!! Hope your vacation was grand!
I do not think you need to explain yourself, justify yourself or apologize in any way. We each follow different paths in life and what is right for some doesn't work for others. Also, there are those of us who see magic in a dog's gaze while others cringe at the drool.
I live with 7 dogs and understand perfectly what you mean. I would not understand someone who didn't.
I'm glad you had help on your journey. I am awaiting reading more.
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