It is what it is.....

I can’t even believe that it is November already. Halloween has come and gone. Everyday seems to come and go faster than the last. It seems just like yesterday that I was 12 and bringing home a stray cat. Secretly feeding it and nursing it back to health. Plotting on how I was going to convince my parents to keep it.

I still do that. Russ doesn’t allow me to foster animals anymore. They definitely find a permanent home, with us. I did successfully nurse a dog with a broken pelvis back to health, and find a home for her. So I can’t say that I have kept them all!

But 4 cats, 3 dogs, a husband and 2 kids later…..space has become a little tight. Before we had kids I didn’t care about the hair everywhere. I didn’t care about the muddy paws and how someone is always throwing up somewhere it seems like.

I didn’t care how our house always seemed like a mad house. Cats wrestling and dogs rough housing. Dogs sleeping on the couch. And our cats scratching up the wall. I really didn’t care. They were my babies and they could do no wrong.

But then the human babies came. I got so preoccupied with my little humans, that my first born, furry babies got the back burner. I started stressing about the dog hair. “How horrible it would be if the baby got one dog hair on her.” I started stressing about the muddy paw prints. And I was so tired, that I didn’t want to play ball as much anymore.

I lost myself. I couldn’t figure out how to balance it. I started worrying about what people thought. I don’t know why. It is a lot of work, but I do keep up with keeping things somewhat hair free. But when did a little dog hair kill someone? So what if I have to sweep and vacuum multiple times a day. Or so what if I don't sweep and vacuum multiple times a day. It is so worth it.

So now…I am going to take a step back. I am going to let the dogs back on the couch….well they have been back on the couch for a while now actually. If someone doesn’t like animals or animal hair then maybe they shouldn’t come over to my house.

I can’t imagine my life without animals. They don’t judge you. They don’t hold grudges against you. They always greet you with a wagging tail. They love you no matter what. They take it like it is. They don’t expect too much or too little. And most importantly they live life in the moment. They don’t worry about the past or the future. And they are downright hilarious!

Children are kind of like this too. And I think we all need to live like this. Who cares what other people think. So what if my neighbors think that I am the crazy cat and dog lady. Maybe I am….who cares. All I know, is that I couldn’t imagine my life without these human and furry creatures in my life.

This is who I am. This is who I have been since I was a little girl. Everyone has their thing. Everyone has something that they are known for. And this is mine. I need to stop fighting it, and I need to own it. I think that people spend way too much time trying to be someone that they are not. They try so hard to impress other people. They try so hard to be perfect in every way that they lose themselves.

So this is it. A new day. A new thought process. I am going to let it go. Well, not too much. I am going to stop caring what people think so much. This is me. Take it or leave it. I love my humans, dogs, cats and husband. They make me crazy sometimes. But that’s what makes life interesting right?

We all need to let the little things go. But also learn to love the little things. Keep love in your heart. Love all creatures (human and non-human). Be kind to one another. But also at the same time stand up for yourselves when someone isn’t being so kind to you. You can only try so much. Sometimes it is just time to move on. If someone doesn’t except you for you…then be done with it.

It is what it is. And I am what I am. Yes, my children have taken the number one spot, but animals and Russ take a close second. No, really I love my Russ more than my animals….really I do. I love you Russ….: )

Peace and love....