The way I would have approached this topic was so different, when I was twenty, from the way I would have approached it in my fiftieth year, and different from today, and I suppose that can be said for most of us. We all need to age, to ripen, to mellow, and to wisen, in order for the real answer to be given, an answer which reflects, hopefully, our true selves.
I learn so much from Maggie. I exaggerate not one bit when I say there are days she is my lifeline with sanity. As comfortable as I am with my new life, the changes which have exploded upon me this past year, like a tsunami, washing over me, sweeping me up, at times I feel helpless, the little child Bill, feeling out of control, feeling the victim, feeling the throw-away, and I suspect I am not alone in that, I suspect many of us, the few reading this and the millions not, feel the same way.
My four-legged lifeline is always grateful. I think it is the unique providence of a dog to always be grateful, tails wagging, tongues hanging, eyes shimmering, even the abused ones, may the gods give them comfort, even they are grateful for a random pat on the head, a kind word from a stranger, their history giving them every reason to distrust, to cower around, to question the humanity in man, and yet they crave kindness and, beyond all logic, they reward any act of kindness with that unique love only a dog can give.
Maggie reminds me to be grateful on those days when I manage to forget. And truly, I have so much to claim as gifts from the universe. My biological family all died before their forty-fifth birthday, as I would have had I remained with them, riddled with drugs and alcohol and associated behavior, and yet, in one lucid moment, they gave me up, gave me a slim chance, to find a way out of the foster system, to beat the odds, and I did, despite my best efforts to drink myself to death, to push away anyone who cared, to reject all efforts to save me from myself. And here I am today, despite the odds against, actually living a life unattainable even in wild dreams ten years ago.
Mind you, and I don’t think it’s just me, I am quite capable of forgetting to be grateful. Catch me at the wrong time and I will be bemoaning the current state of my life, bemoaning the state of the country, the world, the universe, but thank you Dale LeRoy Holland, my father, not once, even during my IMs . . . idiot moments . . . not once will you hear me say life isn’t fair, poor me, why can’t I catch a break . . . my whole life is a streak of blessings, even though at times I could not see that.
All of this is a prelude to a new YouTube series, “Life Through Maggie’s Eyes,” and I really do believe it’s an important series of videos I will be presenting. I am going to get real. I am going to talk about life, the down and dirty of life, the up and joyous of life, and the lessons I have learned from being Maggie’s loyal owner for six-and-a-half years.
If you are reading this, I’m going to ask a favor of you. I want you to watch that series. I want you to hit the “like” button. I want you to subscribe if you have not done so already. And I want you to share the video with your friends. I really think we need straight talk about life, not the bullshit, Madison Avenue version of life, as seen on social media and television. I think there are people out there who are hurting. I think there are people out there who need a forum where they can ask for help in a safe place, or simply have someone listen to them, really listen to them. I am beyond excited about this new series, I think there is a value in it, and I invite you to be a part of it.
And Maggie is wagging her tail in anticipation of you watching it.
One other note: I have a Patreon page, and on that page you can find a way to support my writing and support my videos. For as little as $3 per month you can pay for quality videos about life, and the best articles/blogs I am capable of writing. I want to make an impact while I still have time on this planet. For fifteen years I have produced thousands of articles, and helped countless writers, all for no pay.
I have vanquished my demons on this matter, and I have no problem with asking people to support my projects in The Arts. Why not? People pay for subscriptions to Netflix and YouTube Premium and Google, so why not support a local writer who you actually know, someone you have silently supported for years?
Go to the Patreon website, then look for As We Wonder, and you will be directed to my page where you have payment options.
Thank you for the support you have given me for years and thank you for the support you will continue to give me as I move forward with my creations.
Thank you, John! I really appreciate you stopping by and commenting. I hope all is well with you.
Wonderful, Bill and Maggie!