Day 1086

Has anyone ever looked at you and said, “You were born to that!”? Typically referring to parenting, occupations or athletics. Today I looked at Gus and murmured those words. Gus was born to be a Therapy Dog!

We were at Andover Elementary School this morning to spend some time with first graders. This absolute delightful group had been studying about the power of animals to make our lives better. Service and Therapy Dogs were part of the lesson, so we drove over with our “live specimen!” Gus was a perfect angel while I shared information, read one of my books and allowed the children to walk by for a scratch and some Golden Love. Gus never missed a beat and humbled me with his patience and devotion. He was norn to do thid work !

Although there have been those who have directed those words my way, I have never embraced the notion of having only one path to follow in this life. As a child, I wanted to be a teacher when I grew up, but in the 1950s and 1960s, there were not many options easily open to women. Teaching seemed a more natural fit than nursing, being a secretary or any of the we other career paths on a very short list. I never regretted the choice and yet…

What if I had pursued something outside of the “Women’s Job Box?” Perhaps leaning into my creative spirit, I might have been part of a non-profit or the art world. That would have been a fun and exciting adventure! No regrets though…and , , perhaps it’s not too late to open a few more doors!

As for Gus… he has found his gift! He was born to do this work!