It has been just over five years since I met Scout at my hometown’s humane society. Just under five since I officially brought her home as my own. A half decade — almost twenty percent of my life! — learning from a sweet, speckled, pointy-eared creature.
A little look back
In this time…
We’ve called three different apartments, a house with a fenced yard, and now a converted campervan our home. Scout was with me when I first moved in with Sean and again when we got engaged and then married. I’ve somehow connected with nearly 30,000 followers on Instagram. Clients have paid me to write about dogs!
I’ve also cried on probably a dozen sidewalks. Lost my temper more times than I’d like to recall. Put my ego ahead of my companion. But each setback has taught me something (even if it took a few uncomfortable repetitions for the lessons to sink in). On this New Year’s Eve in 2023, at 26 and a half years old, I can honestly say I have never felt better about myself or the life I’ve created.
I owe so much of that to Scout.
A little look ahead
My biggest priority in 2024 is finishing my Paws and Reflect book. I’ve had this dream for ages. It’s time to stop letting things — the adjustment to van life, a pervasive fear of my audience, imposter syndrome, whatever else comes up on any given Tuesday — get in the way!
So here’s my word: I will finish this memoir. It will be wonderful. You will be able to read it someday sooner than later. Pinky promise.
When it comes to Scout? I’ve never felt less pressure to chase specific goals. We love our shared give and take, me and this cattle dog and the goofy engineer who has our backs always. I want to hold onto my current sense of peace and satisfaction. And hopefully help her keep feeling the same.
A little thank you
Paws and Reflect has been many things to me in the five years since I started writing about dogs in a sorta-kinda-reasonably focused way. A source of inspiration. A source of frustration. A public journal. A place to gloat. A place to moan.
But the best of all has been an opportunity to connect with fellow dog lovers.
If you’ve ever supported us in any way — worn a t-shirt with Scout’s face on it, read a single article, sent a post along to a friend, reached out to say words I’ve shared meant something to you, anything at all — you are responsible for no small measure of joy. Thank you, thank you, thank you.
I’ve been doing some more visual journaling on what this “brand” continues to be for me. We’ll see what comes in the next year! You rock for being along for the ride.
