Life Lesson #1 from Paris the Dog – Wake Up to A Happy Thought

Studies have found women who sleep next to their dog go to bed earlier, sleep better and wake up earlier.

So, the next logical question you are asking yourself right now is what studies is she talking about right?

Well…I found two. 😊

Psychology Today - https://share.google/t6hAkTohcumr71yEG

‍Canisius University Buffalo NY - https://share.google/dGsknlEy9I9p9PQYY

‍But I’m not here to be all scholarly on this. You can research the articles if you want.

I live alone with my 7-year-old Golden Retriever whose name is Paris. She is named after the city of Paris because I have such fond memories of visiting there and hope to go back soon.

‍Paris has been with me since she was 8 weeks old. I quickly learned she had physical challenges that started in utero. We had quite the journey ahead of us, but I fell in love with her the day I brought her home.

‍Starting at about 6 months of age I learned she had severe Irritable Bowel Disease with inflammation all throughout her digestive tract. She wasn’t gaining weight like a normal Golden puppy and this was one of the reasons as her body was not absorbing the necessary nutrients for growth. We started seeing an internal medicine vet – her first specialist. 😊

At her 9-month checkup a heart murmur was detected. But not just a slight murmur – a 4 out of 6 rated murmur. The vet said she needed a cardiologist immediately – her second specialist. 😊

‍At 11 months she started limping and was unable to jump on the couch, the bed or into the backseat of the car. I thought maybe it was temporary as we had gone to the dog park earlier that week. It wasn’t temporary.

‍An x-ray showed the ball on her left femur didn’t develop properly - it was jagged and causing her great pain. They told me about a surgery where they remove the ball and the joint fills in with scar tissue. I thought to myself no way am I doing that.

‍My other two options were medicating her for the rest of her life where she would be pretty much sedated to help the pain or put her down. I made an appointment with the orthopedist – her third specialist. 😊

I did the surgery on her second birthday (gee thanks mom!) and there were setbacks and issues to where she almost died recovering. She stopped eating. They never thought that would happen but it was like she was giving up.

‍And then one day I cried and I told her you can’t give up. We need each other. I prayed that she would recover and live one more year…just one more year. And she did.

Then I prayed she would live to be 5. And she did.

‍Fast forward (there’s a lot in between here but that is a novel 😊) - she just turned 7. Now I’m praying that she will live to be 10 like an average Golden.

My little Paris never gave up. She’s been through so much in her short life. But she is so happy and loving.

She wakes me up every morning by putting her head next to mine on the pillow and wagging her tail so loud that I know it’s time to get up.

What is the lesson? Think of Paris who still wakes up happy every day after all she’s been through. She just wants to make me smile and she does. That’s all she lives for.

Wake up to a happy thought to start your day whatever it may be. And if you can’t think of one think of Paris who still loves life even though...

Rise…Dare to Soar!

Susan xo