Keep on Learning -- through all kinds of experiences...

The big learning experience for me was the health problems suffered by my dog, Lucky, and the insights I got from both my own and others' reactions to the situation (including Lucky's!).

My dog has been in my life for over 11 years. He's actually not even "my" dog, but my son's dog, and they are like brothers. When they were much younger and my son was trying to ignore him, Lucky would nip at his pants legs to get him to play. Likewise, when when my son wanted to harass his "little brother" he would carry him around the house upside down.

Now, my son is away at college, and has been gone for the majority of the past 4 years, and yet, Lucky is equally excited when my son is home to visit.

Lucky is the sweet spirit who greets me at the door every evening when I get home, the one who nudges my hand if he wants to be petted, and who will sit next to me when I cry, even if he doesn't understand why. He's the one who sees me work for hours on end in front of my computer, and who jumps and yelps every time I put on my workout clothes with the hope that he will be taken for a walk.

He *never* loses the enthusiasm and approaches each walk as if it were the very first time he was out on a leash!

While I "know" the love, joy and energy this being has brought into my life, many times I've found we do not appreciate what we have until there is the possibility of its loss. I've been grateful for everything my dog has brought me, and at various moments this past week I didn't know if he would be around anymore.

Lucky lost much of his motor function, started drooling out of one side of his mouth, was unable to focus his eyes, and was tilting his head sharply to one side. He was unable to walk, and I feared he may have had a stroke. I took him to the hospital, and amid tears, had to think about what it would mean if his time had come and I had to let him go.

I was fearful to call my son at college and tell him what was going on, I was sad at the prospect of losing my dog, and at the same time, I know that when it's our time, the best thing others can do for us is to release us to the Universe.

So, throughout this experience, I've learned (and been reminded of!) many important lessons.

I learned that it's those little moments that make our lives so rich and full. I learned that the simple presence of good, supportive energy can mean the world. I learned that saying you're willing to let someone go is different than being forced to face the possibility up close and personal.

I learned that we change our lives and our schedules when emergencies come up, no matter what else we have on our plates. I learned that sometimes just being present with someone who is going through a tough time is the most you can do.

I learned that sometimes we don't understand what's happening to us, but we keep going forward anyway. I learned that when we have the support of our loved ones around us, it makes all the difference in the world. And I learned that when all is said and done, there are many things in our lives we cannot control. We can only influence our reactions to them.

I learned all these lessons from observing my own feelings, watching how my dog reacted to the situation, looking at what I needed and what Lucky needed, throughout this ordeal. And I also learned from how people reacted to me and the situation. Thankfully, my dog is back home now, and I am hopeful for his full recovery. We'll see what happens over the next week...

Not all of us have pets, and not all of us have lost an important person in our lives, but all of us go through events in our lives that open our eyes and allow for learning to take place. I hope that for you, as you have the varied experiences (both good and bad), you take the opportunity to see what it says about you, who you are, who you want to be, and what you can learn about those in your life.