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Help for the holidays and a little bah-humbug
“One of the most important ways to reduce stress is to ask for help. This works not only during the holidays, but also all year ’round.” – Dr. Daisy Sutherland Last week on NPR, there was a fascinating segment on the topic of why so many people secretly dread the Christmas season — even though it’s supposed to be a celebratory season of nonstop merriment. Rates of depression typically rise between Thanksgiving and December 31st, with many folks reporting feelings of sadness. For others, the holidays simply add another layer of stress. Some of us have trouble saying “no” when it comes to stuffing every moment in December with perpetual activity…
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Winter lessons
“Be like a tree and let the dead leaves drop.” ~Rumi Here in southeast Michigan, it seemed as if our unseasonably warm autumn would last forever. But winter’s chill arrived suddenly, and the leaves are finally down from the trees. The branches outside my office window now form artful silhouettes against December’s pale skies, open and receptive to the next snowfall. Today’s quote from Rumi is a reminder that it’s time for me to shed some things too. One of the beautiful aspects of maturing is that we start to release things that no longer work for us. We can drop our pretenses and surrender the habit of trying to…
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Sedatives, surprises and lots of support
“Anything is possible when you have the right people there to support you.” ~ Misty Copeland Nursing a dog who is seriously injured can be confining, but the next few weeks are especially critical for Coco’s recovery. I’ll do whatever it takes to help her — even though it means altering my own plans to accomplish that. As we begin Week Two of Coco’s eight-week healing process, I remind myself that major recoveries can’t be hurried. One small step at a time. Our house looks like an infirmary and will stay that way through the holidays. The Christmas decorations are still packed in the attic, where they’ll remain until next…
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Time and patience
“I was taught that the way of progress is neither swift nor easy.” ~Marie Curie Yesterday afternoon I drove to the grocery to buy more chicken breasts for Coco. Her appetite is poor, thanks in part to the medications she’s taking, but she’ll make an exception for boiled chicken and broth. Heading down 12 Mile Road, I battled another flood of tears — a frequent but unpredictable occurrence after I witnessed Coco’s accident Saturday night. I was exhausted after another restless night of worry and a long day of caregiving. And I was overwhelmed by the heartbreak of my dog’s pain and the thought of the months it will take…
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The long road to recovery
“I’m not telling you that recovery is going to be easy; I’m telling you it’s going to be worth it.” – Art Williams First, thank you for your thoughtful texts, emails, and comments of support for Coco and our family. I’ve never received this much mail for any column or post I’ve written. Along with your support, you’ve shared hope-filled stories about your own pets and how they’ve recovered from illness and trauma. It proves that our pets are family, not accessories. When they hurt, we hurt. As promised, today’s post is an update on what’s next for Coco after the accident. Yesterday morning, several veterinarians at the animal hospital consulted…
