My best boy turned 8 on Sept 20. If you’ve been following along for a while, you might recall that he recently tore his ACL and I felt helpless as I watched my playful pup in pain, no longer wanting to walk, let alone run. I wrote about the emotional toll it took on me here in Processing Grief from August 4.
Rest to Recover
After his injury, Charlie didn’t want to play and he spent more time than usual sleeping. He needed to sit or lie down after just a few minutes of walking. It was hard to watch him slow down but it’s what he needed.
Charlie has had a custom knee brace for over a month now, and his familiar energy is returning. He can walk up the stairs on his own again and we’re back to our routine of morning walks to the park. This was him this morning stalking squirrels, one of his favorite hobbies:
So far today, we spent time playing at the park, lounging outside in the sun, and playing with his new toys we picked up in his birthday haul last night at Petsmart - $95 worth of toys, bones, and treats! He’s a spoiled dog because he’s our only child.
He has this funny quirk where he won’t chew on his bone unless we are near him, watching him. If I leave the room while he is chewing, sometimes he throws a single bark out there: “Hey! Come back.” He waits, not always patiently, for me to return. When I do, he happily picks up his bone to resume gnawing away.
It reminds me of kids who demand their mom watch as they jump or swing or do something they think is amazing. And Charlie is amazing. He is on the road to recovery and I am so proud to be his mama.
I’ll be spending the rest of the day hanging with my buddy celebrating his birthday weekend. Tonight, we will walk around downtown so Charlie can be petted by strangers. He loves the attention, especially from kids. He is always so gentle with them. And he’ll probably end the night with a pup cup, his favorite treat.
Live like Charlie and make time for play today.
Here are some ideas that Charlie suggests:
Buy a dog you know a treat or a new toy. Watch as they wag their tail and enjoy it. If you don’t know any dogs, you can head to a local rescue and drop off some new toys or treats - they will love it!
Walk to a park and notice the squirrels as they eat their acorns with their tiny paws or watch in amazement as they run up and around a tree with ease.
Head out for your favorite treat and devour it with joy. Savoring is good too but Charlie prefers eating with reckless abandon when it comes to ice cream.
Journal Prompts:
What are some of your favorite playful activities? How often do you make time for play? What stops you from playing more?
Write about a time when you were hurt, physically or emotionally, and the process of recovery required you to rest. What was that like for you in your mind, body, and spirit? What were the lessons you learned from that experience?
How do you like to celebrate your birthday? How do you like to honor other people on their birthday? Write about your favorite birthday celebrations, yours or others, and what made them special.
Part Book Club - Part Group Therapy
The October Learning Circle is kicking off soon with the book The Four Agreements: A Practical Guide to Personal Freedom by Don Miguel Ruiz - a classic that offers ancient wisdom and is a quick read with only 160 pages. It’s been a NY Times bestseller for over a decade for good reason.
I’ve read it multiple times and each time I do, I glean new insights and valuable lessons for living.
We’ll meet virtually on Tuesdays October 8 and 22 from 745pm-9pm to discuss the book and the lessons it offers. I’ll prepare thoughtful discussion prompts and journal prompts for homework between our two sessions. Save your spot by signing up on my website.
November - The Gifts of Imperfection by Brene Brown
December - Burnout: The Secret to Unlocking the Stress Cycle by Emily and Amelia Nagoski
Reach out with any questions!
Thank you for reading Write to Heal. Please hit that heart button❤️if you made it this far. I’d love to hear about your pets, your favorite birthday celebrations, or the ways you try to add play to every day. Join me in the comments or the chat!
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Fragile Thoughts: A Healing Memoir is available anywhere books are sold.
I love the lessons Charlie is teaching just by being him! Especially, slow down and heal. Thanks for sharing Katie!