02/24/2026
Resilience.
I’m going to do what I ask my clients to do and be a little vulnerable here.
My mom passed away at the end of March 2025. My dad wasn’t up to continuing to take care of her Cocker Spaniel, Gracie, so she came to live with me. I know that my mom loved Gracie with every bit of her heart, but she couldn’t care for her the way she truly needed.
Gracie was 11 years old when she came to live with us. In those 11 years she rarely went outside, wasn’t regularly groomed, and had some health issues that included skin allergies and balding.
I worried that with her being an older dog, the adjustment might be hard. Gracie had other plans.
She has shown all of us what it means to have joy after heartache. To bounce back from pain. To regain vitality after feeling sick both physically and emotionally.
She reclaimed her puppyhood and it’s a joy every day to watch this walking example of resilience. Even at 77 dog years old, Gracie said “this life is mine to live” and the joy with which she approaches every new thing either leaves me speechless or laughing so hard I can’t breathe.
She did the hard thing. She loved my mom through hard times and loss, and she has dedicated her “retirement” to absolute joy. I’m sure Mom is proud of her, too.