Had a heart opening experience today. Goodness and happiness for today's mental health break! [View all]

[Amaryllis]

I was out walking today and encountered a woman who looked to be late seventies with her little black fluffball of a dog who looked to be about 8 pounds - hard to tell since so much of it was fluff. It was walking along beside her, unleashed, which I have never seen in my neighborhood. Lots of people walking dogs but they are always leashed.

We started talking, and the little dog sat down next to her mom. She told me the dog was named Coco. I reached down to pet her and she backed away. I said, “Oh, she’s shy.”

And her mom said yes, she is at first. But then I squatted down and held my palm out and after checking me out, she approached and let me pet her. The woman and I proceeded to talk for about ten minutes. I asked her how old the dog was, and she said 8, but she’s only had her for three years. She lives alone and volunteers at a shelter. 3 years ago Coco’s owners brought her in, in hoping to find a happier home for her. They worked all day and had a large dog that the little one was uncomfortable around. Another woman who works at the shelter came to find her when she arrived for her shift, and told her that she thought she’d found the perfect dog for her. The woman met Coco, and it was love at first sight. It was clearly a marriage made in heaven, so to speak.

I commented on how the dog just sat beside her, waiting patiently while we talked, or maybe just enjoying herself. The woman said she always does that; just stays right beside her no matter what is going on. There was clearly a special bond between the two of them, and I felt so uplifted after hearing her story.

It made me think of how many stories I’ve heard of animals who find their humans who are clearly meant for each other. I know this happens with humans too!

When my little sister was nine, she brought a stray dog home from school and we ended up keeping her. That was over fifty years ago. We named her Cinnamon because that was what color she was. She was perfect for our family, and lived a long and happy life, contributing immeasurably to our lives.

So I’ve been thinking about this connection that brings people and animals and other people together, and how it’s good and happy and a very special kind of magic. It connected me to this woman. I “just happened” to be on the same block at the same time going the opposite direction so we ran into each other, and I so appreciated the upliftment, particularly given the day’s news.

And I decided to write about this and post it, because we need to remember goodness and the magic of special connections, especially now.