Coping

Isn’t it the craziest thing, how one moment you’re feeling great- happy even, but life decides to take your heart, rip it out of your chest, kick it around a little, return it, just for you to figure how you’re going to put yourself back together again?

Now maybe I’m coming off a tad dramatic, but if I’m being completely transparent, that’s exactly how I felt. I had a great loss in July. I never experienced anything like it and I still feel like I’m missing a piece of my heart with her gone. Now today, after 17 years together, I lost my dog. Now for you non-animal lovers out there who can’t relate, let me paint a picture. I was gifted Sebastian in my early 20’s,and ever since he has been my sidekick in this journey of life. Sebastian has been with me during my most transitional moments in life, from undergrad student, to a fiancé, a wife & a mother.

Everyone warned me that small dogs don’t do well with babies and I began to worry. However, Sebastian was just the opposite. He would be by my side, waking me up to hear the baby cry. He was their tiny protector, whenever someone came near them. Sebastian let the boys do anything to him, from pulling his tail, dressing him up and placing him in a suitcase to take him with them everywhere. He truly was a special little guy.

I feel like I’m once again trying to continue to pick up the pieces of losing someone (dogs count) important. I’m still grieving my grandmother and don’t know when I’ll ever get over that but now this is another hurdle I need to get through.

So what are your coping strategies during difficult periods in your life?

Do you want to crawl up in a ball and hide yourself away from the world or do you put your best foot forward?

I don’t know about you, but this whole adulting thing is taking it’s toll on me. Just when I think I’ve got it figured out, life goes and pulls the rug from under me and I’m starting from scratch all over again.

With light & love, Stefanie