Sole to Soul

Dear Patrons,
This day I find myself with heavy heart and a keen awareness of the impermanence of all things. I have lost my dearest friend of the past ten years, my feisty little dog Alfie. He was a real character a challenging combination of loving adoration and strong reactivity towards others. But I guess we all need challenges to keep us vital and Alfie provided me with many opportunities to grow. Perhaps his final gift to me is to teach me how to let go and to be more compassionate towards others. I know that my loss is just part of ordinary human suffering and others face challenges that are far more tortuous and difficult. But I am still very sad and seem to have lost touch with a trust that the sun is really still shining behind these heavy dark clouds.
In the past when things have fallen apart in my personal life I have always turned to work for solace and comfort. I would focus my reactions towards achievement and perhaps avoided the deeper nature of my situation. But this feels different somehow. I feel more in an accepting space, a place of learning how to tolerate loss and relating to others in a different way, to see them more clearly. I think Alfie may have been a catalyst for loving-kindness. Thank you Alfie for ten wonderful years of mutual devotion and for your parting gift.
Kathy Matava