On the outside, most of the people I see appear to be doing all right. Most seem to keep busy and are generally pleasant as they go about their daily lives.

The truth is, challenges confront all of us. I think I was always aware of that, but only vaguely so. It took a dog to help me better understand the difficulties so many people face.

Three years ago I became the owner of a dog I initially didn’t want.

A beagle named Tulip, she worked some sort of magic that soon rendered me hopelessly in love. (Check out my post from May 18, 2018.)

Deep down inside

Last year, Tulip had to have x-rays. Although they didn’t point to any serious physical problems, the vet counted six pieces of buckshot lodged in her rear end. That discovery was in addition to the BB we had long ago noticed embedded in the top of her head. All this evidence of suffering from a life before we knew her.

The vet exclaimed, “Oh, the stories she would have to tell if only she could talk!” No kidding!

When I consider the likely hardships of her earlier life, I recognize how similar her situation is to those of people we see every day.

The bump that is the BB lodged above her eye reminds me of the noticeable traits people’s physical appearances sometimes reveal. They may be in the form of scars or amputations, manifestations of earlier traumatic events.

Or, they may be the evident physical disabilities others are faced with.

Unworthy. Unloved.

And when I think about all the buckshot buried deep inside my dog, I also reflect on how many people must be dealing with imperceptible pain. It may stem from grief, depression, addiction, or mental illness. It may be the result of bullying, isolation, or a feeling of being unworthy or unloved.

The reality is life is often hard. We all have brokenness of some form, and like Tulip, most of us probably have stories of suffering we could tell.

Instead, it seems we usually try to hide all our pain and our imperfections. We try to act “normal” and hope to fit in. Especially when the suffering is internal, we may not get the support and the healing we truly need.

I look again at this precious dog, snoring gently next to me as I write. I haven’t “fixed” her. She is as insecure and needy as she was when I first met her. But, we have established a bond of love, and we will remain deeply connected for the rest of our time together. I will nurture and support her, and she will continue to melt my heart by merely “being.”

What about people?

I find myself wondering if, since it worked with Tulip, could it work the same with people? What if we could take a chance and vow to open our hearts and our arms a little wider? Could we acknowledge that we are all imperfect and vulnerable? Could we take one baby step toward coming together—truly being present to one another? Can we release our own egos and all our expectations to genuinely honor the worthiness of others?

We are all interconnected.

Imagine how we could lighten each other’s loads if we committed to giving this serious effort! Envision how this kind of thinking and action could raise all our lives to a higher level!

As I settle into these powerful thoughts, I vow to make some changes. From now on, I will attempt to see those I encounter as whole beings who are both loving and lovable. Regardless of their actions—even if they growl or nip or chase—they are worthy because they exist.

I want my focus to be on loving them and learning from them, all without judgment or expectations.

Hmmm . . . all this soulful pondering because of one little dog!

I will never grow tired of opening the door to see her run to me, tail wagging full speed as she welcomes me home. She throws her head back and breaks into the familiar voice that seems to outsize her body, “Woof! Woof! Oww—wooo!!!”

I know that because we made room for her, our lives are better!

So perhaps, when we learn to make room for all beings, we’ll experience the deeper richness of our connections! And maybe then, all our lives will be better!