Dear Henry

One of the most important things I think about is time even though I don’t know to tell time I do see value in how I spend my time. I am a hound and I love to run free but also like my random naps throughout the day. I am as you know an anxious dog. Wish I wasn’t but this is what makes me me. I am truly a sensitive soul. This is what my owner says all the time. It is said in such an endearing way I am growing to see it as positive attitude. The tough part as you can imagine is how to regulate it so it does not get in the day or my doggy blissful days. I tell you this because as I share my thoughts I want you too to remember time spent in the woods can be very therapeutic and time spent at the open therapeutic too. Taking that moment to check in on yourself internally, to see how you feel will be the test for a happy day. If your day is filled with anxiety, anger, loss, loneliness, and all those challenging emotions stop, reset and ask this one question: what might be the one thing I have to do in that moment to change or add to make the desired experience more successful and satisfying. Be you!

Do you remember a time in your life when things were simple. It was enough to just get up and take the day as it is. To have a child like sense of fun. To be present. This is exactly how I live my life now and when I can get my master to play with me this is when the magical moment shows up and they too are experiencing a mindful minute. We are happy, calm and it’s like only that moment matters and this is what is true. Today when your hanging out with your friends, kids, even a stranger notice what can show up when you are entirely present. I hear and smell everything. I feel a lot and sometimes to often but when that happens I shift my mind and grab a human hug, belly rub or focus my attention towards a calm tone of someone or something near me that I can look at and take in its beauty. Listen, I know what hard days look like. My past is a sad memory of that but it’s just that a memory. I want new memories. Love to hear some of your wonderful stories and memories too? Enjoy the rain. The sound of it and the movement of it makes for great opportunity to go out and find a good puddle to play in or grab your umbrella, dog leash.

Today is my first post and I wanted to introduce myself.

I am Henry a fox hound who was originally from Georgia. My life in Georgia was hard. I spent my days with a bunch of other dogs some like me and other not. Some were nice and others made my days very difficult. My owners seemed to like dogs but there were so many of us that it made it difficult for them to give us the attention we deserved. My dog friends were a mixed bunch. We all seemed to be wanting one thing, to be included. It seemed like a simple request. I found it hard for me to make lasting friendships. Times got tough for me in Georgia, not only to feel safe but I had to fight to get food. This was a big problem, as most of the time I was on the short end of the stick and I went to bed hungry most nights. No matter how loud I barked nothing seemed to change. My owner tied me to a truck and this is where I spent most the of my days. I got sadder, hungrier and I found my anxiety and ability to trust others were out of balance. One day my owners home caught on fire and because of the fire we got the help we needed. Local officials came to our rescue. My dog pals and I needed human support and it finally came in a big way! I made my way to Massachusetts which that in itself was a very long journey. Boy was I scared but there were more nice people helping me once again. Once I arrived I was told I would be transported to a shelter where they would provide me the care I needed for so long and I can’t tell you how happy this made me. Unfortunately I was separated from some of my friends which was difficult but I am a total optimist even when other’s around me didn’t know or see my worth. Well I made it to the animal shelter and was placed in a giant cage alone. My head was spinning and I felt very alone. The only thing I could do was to call out for help. My voice was the one thing no one could take away. Everything was different now, the weather, the sounds of the peoples voices but now I didn’t have to fight for food and the man who took me in was kinder to me than original owners. Every day he would greet me with hello Joe! He would tell
me stories about how one day I would go and live in a home with a family, that would love and respect me. He told me I would meet other dogs and animals that would enjoy my company and think I was something special. He told me life will be predictable and I would some day feel good on the inside and outside. It will take time, you wait and see he would say. The nice man who came to feed me and let me out to walk and stretch my legs had a way of making me believe anything is possible if you don’t give up. My resilience had not failed me so I chose to keep my faith in man kind.
There was a big process to getting ready for my new family. I had to see a doctor boy oh boy was I scared. I had all sorts of medical care and they gave me a chip. The chip goes under your skin incase you get lost and someone finds you and return you to your new family. Weeks went by but on a very bright sunny day my friend at the shelter told me my day had come and my new owner was on their way.
The day arrived and a beautiful, caring and very patient 13 year old girl named Sloane came to adopt me. I don’t know why but from the moment we met, I know I had found my forever home. Sloane didn’t care that I was weak, dirty, a full belly of bad parasites and I was a bag of bones from the poor care of my original owners. We hung out in the greeter area to get to know one another. I thought I’d best be on my best behavior during that time. She didn’t care. She opened her heart fully and without hesitation she told her mom I was the one and so it began. I said good bye to the nice man at the shelter and we walked over to get in the car. I was encouraged to get in but I was just to weak to jump up. No one up until this point had offered me physical assistance. Sloane’s mom gently pick me up and placed me on the softest blanket I had ever felt. What seemed like the longest ride was also a ride filled with kind words, soft slow strokes of my smelly fur. I asked myself why me. Why was there a fire at my home? Why did all these things happen to me? Why did I meet so many amazing people for such short moments. Why would Sloane choose me out of all the dogs she could have? Then I thought why not me. Hard things sometimes happen for a reason but good things do also. Don’t give up!
We arrived….. just as the helped me into the van so was I assisted out of the van. Sloane took me in to meet all of her amazing family. I was happy and scared at the same time. My scars of the past had followed me. With time, a consistent routine, and the ability of my new family to to get to know me, for who I am, things began to look up!

I want to create a space where others could reach out to me to chat, hence the name Dear Henry ( the new name given to me by my new family). I hope other check in from time to time to hear about my adventures. I also hope you too can share your life journey and to know they are not alone. I want to create a space where I can share ideas on how to live a well life. A life that is guided by individual passion. My life so far has had many twists and turns but I have learned so much over the part two years.

It took me two years to realize my tail would wag when I was happy and how to hug without being afraid. Good thing I waited.

I can’t wait to meet all of you and share with you all the things that make me happy. I plan on sharing pictures and ideas. Can’t wait to hear from you too!

Happy tails!!! Henry