Pausing publication
Until next year
I’ve been thinking a lot about time. When you’re moving through a cancer diagnosis, as we’ve been since last month, everything boils down to time. When life with your dog once stretched lazily over the horizon of years, you’re now thinking in days, weeks, months.
How you spend your time gets quickly recalibrated. There are more appointments, more worries, more urgency to cherish each and every moment. And after Larkin’s life threatening emergency and being told he may not make it through the night, the latter has been especially prescient.
I’m grateful for every moment we have while trying to make sense of and navigate this new reality. I saw a post recently that said, when you have grief, loss, or pain in your life, your capacity changes. The weight you carry gets heavier and you need both hands to carry it.
Right now my hands are full. I’m having to put some things down, even the things I love, even if just for the time being.
I started The Whole Picture in January. It’s been a labor of love and deep belief that we need a bigger conversation about what life with dogs looks like and should be. It’s not always an easy ask in a culture that prioritizes compliance and quick fixes.
And yet, here we are. Thank you for being here and for supporting this space. It’s been such a privilege to learn alongside you over this past year, and especially to learn more about your wonderful dogs.
I hope the end of this year gives you a soft place to land. Please love on your dogs for me. Give them all the grace, all the patience, and all the time you can. And of course, all the cookies :)
See you soon,
Jenny.
If you’re a paid subscriber, you will not be charged until the publication is unpaused. If you receive any charges during this time, please reply to this email and let me know.
You’ve shared so much valuable information here over this year and when the time is right I’m sure we will all meet you here again.
Until then thinking of you and Larkin and wishing you every beautiful and precious moment you can have together.
I know I've said it before, but I don't think it can be said too many times: I only have a dog because I first got to witness your love for Larkin ❤️ I was only able to see and address my dog's underlying pain because of your dedicated advocacy for being a thoughtful and more attuned caretaker for Larkin ❤️🩹
You have given so much to so many, and of course it's good and right to give everything to your family now. I can only hope you're blessed with many precious and sacred moments together as you walk this journey with your boy.