Today (4.28.12) was a day filled with love and gratitude. In the early part of the afternoon I spent it walking my dog. It is such a joy to take her on walks because it is the one time I really see her happy and enjoying life. When she is not distracted by enjoying all the new smells outside, however, she is in great pain with arthritis, deafness, blindness, and dementia. She is 14 years old, and I am sad to say I will have to put her to rest 2 days from now. Just being able to see glimpses of her happy in her final days fills me with joy, and with gratitude for all the special years I have spent with her. Even when I know she will not be with me in such a short time from now, just enjoying these last special moments I have with her is a joy and a gift. She will always hold a special place in my heart, as she was my first dog and I grew up with her.

Someone else who holds a special place in my heart is my mother, who I had the joy of spending the later afternoon and the evening with. We went out for a late lunch where we chatted and just enjoyed each other’s company. We had some time to kill (and by kill I mean enjoy) before we went out to see a movie, so we walked over to Whole Foods where we smelled all the different tester perfumes on display and looked at all the different kinds of chocolates. I ended up buying some lavender blueberry dark chocolate. So yummy. Enjoying the sweet smells and sweet tastes before enjoying a lighthearted and funny movie with someone I love so deeply was just what I needed today. It’s the simple things in life where there is so much joy, beauty, and gratitude–that is if we choose to see it.

Photo courtesy: stjoefarm.wordpress.com