
My Alex
I moved from Maryland to Massachusetts almost a year ago, and I can say with certainty that if there was ever a time when living in the moment was put to a test, this was it. In the last 11 months there were so many changes: my Alex went to that Rainbow Bridge I believe all animals go to; my mom passed away a month after Alex left; I went from living in a nice and spacious townhouse to a small apartment; and on top of that, I was having a really hard time adapting to a new place.

Dexter, a handsome furry kid
I love to write and so I wrote about how I felt through tears and feeling sorry for myself. I was mourning what I had lost rather than concentrating on what I had. A fellow blogger reminded me that my home was anywhere my dog was, and that really made me think. I was fighting being in MA while wasting the precious time I had with Alex without really understanding that. After we put Alex down, I was numb for a while, and then it hit me that she was gone. Later on I found out my mom passed away. Talk about getting the wind knocked out of my sails.

Handsome Walter
Today, although I am still mourning my loved ones and adapting to MA, I see things different. I now know that the time I have with those I love is not infinite, therefore I have to make the best out of it. I cry when I feel like crying, and I laugh my butt off when Cynthia, my wife, Abby, our puppy, or Jessenia, my cousin, end up saying something funny. Living in the moment is a very difficult thing to do for humans, and that is something we can learn from our canine companions. Whether they are napping, walking, running, etc., they are enjoying what they are doing without dwelling on the past or fearing an uncertain future. Now you see why I say that dogs are amazing teachers? They really are.