Puppy training.

So. I did a thing last week and I learned a ton from it.

Anyone who knows me knows my weakness and love for animals. I’ve been rescuing pups and bringing them home since middle school. Just ask my mama. 😂

So. When this gorgeous girl popped into my feed I was like 😳. She looked just like baby Nora.

Keith was clear we did not NEED a puppy. But I mean…is a puppy ever on the need list or just always on the want list!?

Anyway. I brought her home for a “trial run.” She was here for 5 days. By the 4th day I was in tears. I was exhausted from getting up with her during the night and taking her out during a freezing cold week. I was completely attled from being off schedule. I was realizing that I’d bitten off more than I could chew.

By Friday, I knew she was the right pup at the wrong time. The best part of the story is that on Friday night, Keith and I drove to meet the PERFECT family for her from Raleigh. They’d lost their lab. They have three children who had no idea a new pup was coming their way. They were READY for her. Their timing was RIGHT.

Here’s a few things I learned:

1. I learned that something can be GREAT but that doesn’t mean it’s great for you.

2. I learned that something can be GREAT but if the timing isn’t right, it doesn’t matter how great it is.

3. I learned that my plate is smaller than I thought it was. It used to be bigger. I had greater capacity. But it’s shrunk…and that’s okay.

4. I learned that my routines and rhythms bring great comfort to me and when they are out of whack…I’m out of whack.

5. I learned that I look at many things through the eyes of 40 year old me…but that 56 year old me is the one here right now and she’s not quite as spry.

6. Lastly, I learned that this pup was a picture for me…that there are other things I look back on longingly and think I should add them back onto my plate, when the truth of the matter is that I shouldn’t. I’m a different person now than I was then.

As it should be.

Oh, and I’d be remiss to not add one more lesson I learned that Keith keeps reminding me over and over. It’s the lesson of “I should listen to my husband.” Yup. That’s a good one.

P.S. This precious baby has had a GREAT weekend with her new family and they are all madly in love.

xox.eb