Deciding to be Happy

The look on Shyla's face in this photo sums up how I felt as I started this day.

Being a person who loves to seize the day can be a very bad thing when trying to gradually return to my favorite sport after surgery. I did a million times too much snowbiking in my first few days back. This morning, my shoulder was so sore that Shyla and I were relegated to hiking. It's nobody's fault but my own. Live - and hope that you learn.

In addition, today my head is buzzing as if the brief hiatus of migraines is about to end. Needless to say, my mood was not good this morning.

I have certain "go-to" things that I do when I need to lift my spirits. I hate squandering one of my precious days on this Earth feeling sorry for myself. I've known how precious each day is since I was young, having seen my mother die at about the age that I am now. And I know that she would have given anything for more days on this Earth. That's how my "no squandering days" ethic started.

To lift my spirits at the start of our little hike this morning, I played fetch with Shyla. That game never ceases to make me smile! Her enthusiasm can make me burst out laughing! She would retrieve all day if I let her.

The sun came out, ever so briefly, during our hike. Shyla seemed to remember that barking like a lunatic makes me laugh.

I don't know what I'd do without her. She is such a loving and sweet soul who has become a part of my heart.

I remember feeling guilty about having Shyla join our family after K died. But then I realized that K would have wanted me to be happy. Moreover, I knew that having a furry friend to play with every day would help me immeasurably. We still had handsome and sweet R but his heart belongs to the Runner - and R seemed to miss having a furry partner too.

In those first months with Shyla, it was emotionally bumpy. However, I knew that forming a bond with her was the biggest thing that I could do to find happiness again.

Building a loving bond with Shyla was the best decision I could have made - both for helping me find my footing without K and for my long-term happiness. Shyla helped me today just like she's helped me so many days since I met her.