Friendship Collage

"Grief can take care of itself, but to get the full value of joy you must have somebody to divide it with." --Mark Twain

Friendship

My husband, Martin, and I are fortunate to have many dear friends. We’ve met lots of great people through the various companies we’ve worked for, neighborhoods we’ve lived in and schools we’ve attended. One group of friends in particular are especially dear to us. We’ve met them through Martin’s former employer and even though he’s long been gone from that company (thank god!!!), we see these friends on a regular basis.

One of the things we do together is rotate hosting dinner parties. Last night, we hosted a southwestern themed seafood bbq. I love to cook and our friends are adventurous eaters so I really enjoy trying out new recipes. Cooking and recipe testing is a fabulous way for me to express my creativity. When we get together, we laugh, eat, share, laugh some more and of course catch up in each other’s lives. Afterwards I feel fulfilled and joyful. This is how I feel every time we get together.

Last night’s experience brings me to a movie we recently watched on DVD called Into the Wild. Into the Wild (2007) It’s a beautiful story of a young man who discovers the importance of sharing life’s experience with others after he realizes he is dying. And he leaves the planet grateful for making this discovery. It was profound.

To me, life is about expressing my creativity and sharing my experiences with others. By sharing I’m not talking about competing with others, trying to feel important, making myself look smart, etc. It’s about just being me and being around people who just accept me as I am….warts and all! When I’m with friends who accept me as I am, I feel connected and loved. And these feelings inspire me to accept others as they are so they feel connected and loved. It’s a beautiful thing…pass it on!

Growth

Life Lessons From Millie The Dog

Always Smiling

I was chatting with my sister about her dog Millie. The occasion was prompted by our discussion about Ginger, my brother’s dog who is ill. We both felt very sad about Ginger’s ill health especially knowing that her death will be very hard for our young nieces who are a part of Ginger’s family.

Millie is even older than Ginger and has slowed down a lot. I see Millie about once or twice a year as she gets boarded when my sister travels to Michigan. When I saw her last Thanksgiving, I noticed how much she had aged. And I when I think about both dogs leaving the planet in the relative near future, I feel sad…..I just love them.

Millie is the best example of joy that I know and have experienced. She gets up in the morning and feels joy about eating her dog food. She doesn’t get around like she used to yet she exudes excitement to go for a walk. Leave for 10 minutes, Millie greets you like you’re her long lost friend after years of separation. Scratch Millie in her special spot and she wiggles with delight.

Joy, delight, and enthusiasm are all words I’d use to describe Millie. What is remarkable is the consistency she demonstrates these behaviors. Can you even imagine the kind of world we’d live in if we all demonstrated joy and enthusiasm in everything we do? And yet Millie does it every day. Just thinking about her makes me smile and fills me with joy. What a gift….no wonder dog is god spelled backwards!