A new chapter

Yesterday, I wrote about memories of K, my sweet heart dog who changed me forever.

While I still cry for her sometimes, I also realize that the ray of sunshine in the story is that I met Shyla after K's death. If the timing had been any different, Shyla and I would have never known each other.

I feel fortunate that Shyla leaped into my life a couple of months after K's death.

Shyla was/is a different dog than any I've had in my life before. She's super sensitive - some would say that she's "fearful". However, I don't think that "fearfulness" is written in her genes. I think that she didn't get a lot of exposure to the world when she was young so her naturally sensitive soul is easily scared by the crazy things in the human world.

My dog trainer likes to say that you usually get the dog who you "need" at any point in your life. My trainer feels that I was a perfect match for Shyla. I'd had enough experience with training Labs that I could learn to help Shyla navigate the world. And, after grieving K, I was ready to open my heart to a sensitive girl like Shyla.

Now, unlike when I first met Shyla, she usually looks at the world with hopefulness and enthusiasm. She sometimes gets scared in the midst of her enthusiasm. However, her hopeful and usually happy demeanor warms my heart because I know how scared she was when I first met her.

I feel honored that Shyla now trusts me (and our whole pack) completely, and for that I feel nothing but gratitude. Each morning that we see the sunrise together, I feel grateful.

That's the ironic part of loss. When and if you're ready, a new chapter of life opens up after a loss. I am still capable of feeling guilty about that part but I mostly realize that this is what K would have wanted for me - a new furry friend who makes me smile and laugh, who watches sunrises with me, and who loves to snuggle.

And, for that, I am grateful.