Moving Forward as We Grieve
The dog bed is empty, the water dish remains dry and I hear Doc tell people that the house has a deafening silence since I have been gone. The hallways at work that I wandered since I was a puppy are quieter. Without the sounds of my bark alerting Doc that her next patient is here or the nails from my paws clicking on the floor as I went up and down the hall, there is no doubt, that there is something missing. You see, each life leaves an imprint behind. The imprint is the way that we are remembered, so I was so honored that a memorial was held for me at the place that I loved to go to work everyday.
The humans that I left behind knew that it was important to create a safe space for everyone to grieve and to also show support to Doc as she walks through her sadness. It has been my observation over the years that humans are not always comfortable with grief, but the fact is, that loss is a part of life that is painful to face. In our loss we not only miss the one that is no longer with us, but it reminds us of our own mortality and that can be scary. Grieving takes time and the only way to process it is to allow yourself to feel. I often heard Doc remind her patient’s that everyone grieves in their own way. Each person’s journey is unique and should be respected.
At my memorial, the patient’s and staff all shared their memories about me. I was so happy to hear the kind and funny stories about how I affected the lives of the people I cared about. Because, in my short 13 years of life, I was there to show all of you the importance of living each day to the fullest, to try and love unconditionally, have fun, eat that extra Milk Bone, say yes to life and it’s opportunities more than you say no and not to forget to let the humans in your life know how much they mean to you. At the end of your life you want no regrets. I had none. Even if you have made some mistakes along the way like we all do, learn from those mistakes, forgive yourself, make amends if needed and move on. Life is too short to stay stuck in the past.
I know many of you are still processing what it means to no longer have me with you. Please take comfort in knowing that on the other side of the Rainbow Bridge, I still keep watch and I am listening. The other day I was surprised to hear Doc say that I was the best part of her, but I disagree, I was in her life to help her and we brought out the best in each other. That’s how a team works when the mission is to be of service to others. Please know how much I loved being in all of your lives. I tried to teach you everything I know about the importance of being present and taking care of each other. it is my deepest wish that you pass on what you learned from me and live your life in peace.