1. Truth: My two dogs drive me crazy and keep me sane. I know that’s a contradiction, but it’s exactly how it is. They ask for so much, need so much, and so often it isn’t convenient or easy. And yet, without them my life would seem empty, there would be too much space and it would be too quiet.

2. Truth: The fact that they don’t live very long is the most inconvenient thing about them. Facebook reminded me today that four years ago, one of my favorite dogs of all time died. Rocky was a bullmastiff that belonged to my in-laws. We met him first when he was only weeks old, and for the last half of his life, he lived here, close to us, and we spent a lot of time with him. I was lucky enough to be with him when he died. He was a big dog, 130+ pounds, and his heart was the biggest thing about him.

3. Truth: We are all impermanent, and everything changes. We can get caught up in generating a lot of suffering about this, get worked up about how unfair it all is (this is my favorite response), or we can meet change as it arises with curiosity and compassion, be as fully with our loss and our grief as we are with love and joy.

One wish: That no matter what might arise for us, whatever obstacle or gift, we meet it with an open heart.