Love, Loss and Growth
The pain we feel gives us permission to spread our wings
The pain I am experiencing feels odd
unlike other losses.
It’s a pain coming from two sources
that were connected in ways
no one will ever fully understand.
Two souls. One human and
the other is a beloved companion
unable to express through words.
Exchanges happened through intense eye contact,
a nudge or a quick glance back,
an enthusiastic toy retrieval
when coming through the door after a long day away,
a jaunty strut when leading the way on a daily walk,
a panting, toothy grin that expressed an unwavering, spirited energy.
This powerful connection evolved through
an ability to sense discomfort, despair, joy, unconditional love.
These two beings created a spiritual union when no human could.
Their kindred spirits were brought together on a whim,
a deep, unintentional stroke of youthful intuition.
It became a lifeline.
Mia looked over her while the teenage years proved a challenge to navigate.
Mia caressed and absorbed her tears,
providing support when fear outweighed joy
as she journeyed through her early twenties.
Mia offered a foundation when nothing seemed certain.
Mia took her on walks through neighborhoods,
introducing her to souls she would never have met otherwise.
They strode along sandy beaches
as Mia ran and played wildly among the waves.
They shared a love of parks
where prancing and gathering sticks infused them both with a sense of joy.
They hiked in the hills, where Mia showed her
how to experience nature and life through the sense of smell.
As the two continued to move into uncharted territory,
growth sprang forth in the form of responsibility,
maturity,
caring,
compassion,
grace, and a love that would endure.
Toward the end, the roles reversed.
She was there for Mia as her body began to slowly wane.
Mia’s spirit was still ever present, her mind sharp, alert,
still intuitively, the protector.
Toward the end, this amazing companion
let us all know it was time.
Her days of frolicking were coming to a close.
The sparkle in her eyes was dimming.
Her gate began to slow.
Play time was shorter.
Mia gave us the time we needed; she knew it would be hard.
A gift when her presence and love were most needed.
She fulfilled her role in this life and
knew McKenzie was ready to move on with hers.
McKenzie, my impulsive teenage daughter, had $300 burning a hole in her pocket when she was in high school. So, on a whim, she decided to visit a local pet store. Mia, a yellow lab, was the last of a litter. This is where their connection began. McKenzie grew up with dogs. We always had one and often two to three at a time. As an only child, the dogs were like siblings. So it was not at all surprising that she wanted a dog to call her own.
Looking back, it was indeed a gift from the universe for this young intuitive soul, who was impulsive in her actions but wise enough to know it would prove to be the right decision. At the time, McKenzie may not have been consciously aware that this would be a life raft for her. It didn’t take her long to figure it out.
The pain I feel with Mia’s passing is intense. She holds a special place in my heart. Her powerful presence in McKenzie’s life at a time when I could not get through to her has not been lost on me. I remember talking to McKenzie through Mia in the hopes that this sweet creature would relay my thoughts in ways only a four-legged companion could.
The connection between the two of them was phenomenal, and my own bond with McKenzie created a nexus that makes this loss extraordinary. Mia brought so much joy.
Some elements enter into our lives only to be with us for a short time. It’s simply the way of the universe. She does not want us to get too comfortable so that we lose our desire to grow or that we find it unnecessary to expand our minds. The status quo, more often than not, becomes our comfort bubble because we are afraid of the alternative.
When people are so ingrained within their clan and their routines, they avoid any kind of disruption, even if their hearts are urging them to move on, to make changes.
The universe wants us to know that we can survive and gives us what we need when needed and then sets us free.
Life can be hard, and it doesn’t get any easier. As we consciously and unconsciously tuck away experiences deep in our souls, they have a way of resurfacing, reminding us of how we’ve grown. They prompt our ability to move on despite the losses and disappointments.
I am grateful that Mia was there for McKenzie in her darkest times and when the light eventually came back into her life. How my daughter would find the strength when Mia was no longer around weighed heavy on my mind. The inevitable terrified me because filling the hole in her heart seemed insurmountable.
Words cannot fully describe their relationship; it is/was beyond profound. Mia’s impact was certainly far above anything I could have imagined.
This beautiful spirit helped us to understand better the power of unconditional love, an enduring love that does not judge.
Mia is now romping around somewhere in the universe with Sophie, Dixie, Charlie, Buff, KC and Ginger, sending messages through nature and other means. She’s letting us know her spirit is still alive and spreading joy.
Michelle Lindblom
The link below is to the piece I wrote last year when we lost our Weimaraner, Sophie.