Category: Musings

I sometimes pet sit for people. The relationship I have with each is special and unique. Most of them have something to teach you if you listen. I had some adventures with my friend Brian’s dog.

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Spencer by day and Spencer by night are different animals. By day he was the ultimate attention seeker, the ultimate charmer. “Look at me with this big stick”, he’d say to me, “Isn’t it big; aren’t I grand?” “Yes, Spencer”, I would agree. “It’s mighty magnificent and so are you.” He would nod, fully expecting my response. “Pet me”, he would insist, to me, to anyone here, “I am Spencer” as if that was all that was needed to have us fall all over ourselves to do so. And he was pretty much right.

But by night, he was quiet, preoccupied, focused, on guard, keeping us safe from the worst kind of raccoons and rabbits. I believe he appreciated my still night watchfulness. I didn’t trouble him or talk to him. Just appreciated the night. Kindred spirit, I imagined him thinking, but I’m sure it was all me. But we hung out. Quiet together, he and I.

Edit: Spencer has since crossed over the Rainbow Bridge. We miss him.

I’m usually in the habit of wishing people the best year ever. Because that is what I really truly want for people – their best year yet. I feel that intensely.

But the truth is, you might not think this year ends up being the best year ever. It could be a year of hardships. It might have let downs, struggles and failures. Because in my experience – yours, too – things happen. People you love desperately, die – that’s been my experience. We get sick. We fail. Our hearts hurt. We fail to live up to our unrealistic ideals of ourselves. People cut us off in traffic. Any number of things. That’s my experience, too.

Instead this year I wish everyone resiliency. I want you to bounce back stronger than ever. I wish you bravery. To conquer your fears. Because the best things in life often have a measure of fear to them.

I wish you the ability to realize at least once or more, that you have limited time. I’m sorry if that bums you out, but maybe you will make one decision that is meaningful that you might not otherwise.

I wish that when you knew you were happy, that you realize just how freaking lucky you are. Because there may be a time in your life that you would wish anything to be where were when you realized you were happy.

I wish that you learn lessons from any hardships – not bitter cynical lessons, but lessons that works to improve your life – someone else’s life. And when someone cuts you off in traffic the wisdom to know that their life may be presenting them some big big challenges.

I want more than anything – especially for the people who really need it – empathy for themselves. Quit thinking you can do more than you can do. You’re human like the rest of us. Really. Cut it out. And quit thinking you can do less. I don’t need to say more. You know it in your heart.

I most of all wish you accomplish things in this year that when you come to the end of your life, make you feel like you lived your life and lived it well.

This – in the grand scheme of things – really is the best. So if I wish you the best year yet on your birthday, this is what I wish for you: meaning.

For now, Happy 2014. Everyone who this reaches has touched my life in some way and I am grateful for that. I wish you the best year yet.