“Be thankful for what you have; you’ll end up having more. If you concentrate on what you don’t have, you will never, ever have enough.” Oprah Winfrey
Susie Q
I hope you enjoy this post from a few years ago. It says so much that I think is relevant during these times and any others. This honors Thanksgiving but also Susie who has aged considerably and may not be around as long as we would like. So Happy Thanksgiving to you All!
For the last several years, I have focused on the philosophy that Oprah espouses, and it has served me well. It has reprogrammed my previous disappointment with the specific aspects of my life with a belief that there is more good than bad in the challenges I’ve encountered. I have grown in many ways that have made me a wiser person because I have often been forced to change the way I see things.
Pets Offer Us to Love
I know that most people prefer dogs, but I’ve always preferred cats. They’re so cuddly like holding a baby in your arms, and they take care of their own cleaning, eat when they feel like it, and use a litter box so you don’t have to walk them on rainy days. They are much easier to live with than a dog if you live in apartments as I usually have, and their need for some “private time” works nicely with my need for time alone. While many people see them as indifferent, I have always felt very loved by my cats.
I never wanted a dog. You have to walk them, bathe them, give them lots of attention, and they are rather scary if they don’t like you, especially if they are large. However, I’ve been around many dogs because I live in a dog-loving city where many people have bumper stickers that read “Dog is Love” and take their dogs into stores and out to dinner with them. Asheville has been called “The Paris of the South” partly because it has so many restaurants with outdoor dining areas. Personally, I believe these areas were created for the customers who refuse to be separated from their dogs even for a meal.
Receiving Two Gifts, Not One
I never expected to have a dog in my life on a daily basis, but here I am, the adopted mother of a dog named Susie Q. She is in my life because one of the great gifts I’ve received this year is a relationship with a loving man, her “daddy,” a man who has all the qualities I had on my list for the perfect partner. I didn’t realize when I started seeing him that I had received two treasures, not just one.
Dogs Can Teach Us to Be Thankful for Small Things
Ordinarily, I wouldn’t choose to be involved with a man who deeply loves another woman, but I decided to make an exception in this case, and I’m glad I did because Susie Q is a wise woman dog. She has taught me so much about love and thankfulness. In a time when people often don’t say thank you when you open the door for them, I truly appreciate how thankful Susie is.
Each time we meet, she is so excited she comes running up to me with her tail wagging, barking, and jumping around like a happy little kid. When I pet her, she looks at me with her dreamy brown eyes like I’m the most wonderful person in the world. She shows her affection for me by sitting on my foot, or if I’m sitting, she sweetly lays her head on my shoe. If I would let her, I’m sure she would crawl into my lap, but she’s a little large for that.
Animals Demonstrate the Love They Are Shown
With a tail that wags “thank you” for each good thing she experiences, no matter how small, she reminds me to appreciate all that I experience in life. She accepts me when I am joyful, and when I am sad, she is nearby looking for an opportunity to show her concern. It is clear to me that she is able to love so much because she has been loved and that says a lot about her “daddy” –a man who knows a great deal about giving and receiving love. Susie Q and I are very lucky women.
Be Open to Unexpected Gifts
So, on this day before Thanksgiving, with the first snow of the year falling, I am reminded that some of our greatest gifts come from unexpected places in unexpected ways. If we are willing to keep an open mind, we will be present to accept them.
Thanks to each and every one of you who read and follow my blog.
May you have an abundant Thanksgiving!
© 2013 Georganne Spruce
Related Articles: Staying Thankful by Wayne Dyer, Gratitude by Wayne Dyer, A Dose of Gratitude: How Being Grateful Can Keep You Happy, Being Thankful Is Good for Your Heart
Awakening to the Dance 