This is Fruitycake. This morning, we woke up to survey the damage of the storm.
It was a lightening show and dramatic weather. But when we went to bed, we hoped that some of our repairs lately would help the flooding. I am happy to say Boy Person did it again. That means he was successful!
But the storm seemed to be sticking to Girl Person this morning. I did not want to go on a walk. Because I really didn’t think she was up to it. She needed to take the morning off and rest for once. And let me tell you this…it was not easy to accomplish this. But I refused to move, no matter what.
No matter how many treats she offered or even bread. No. Not even the bread. She is more important to me. Some may say I am her service dog now and I’ve made it known. I don’t need a badge or a label.
That is what and who I am. Labels. I got to thinking about that. Labels like in a grocery store…
Before my name was Fruitycake, before I was labeled a stray dog and a rescue dog, who was I? Me. First, I was me.
Before I held on to the labels that I was not good enough or that I wasn’t pretty enough, who was I first? I was me. Why did I hold on to the labels? Before people called me scared and anxious, I was me. But I listened to the labels and definitions of me. And I’m just starting to learn to replace them. Like Girl Person. We are in this together.
So today, I’m replacing stray with independent. I’m replacing scared with smart. I’m replacing rescue dog with ME. Because I am me. I am only me. First, I was me, who were you first?
You were you was you are that. Despite the labels someone else has told you you have never shaken off.
Girl Person said she is depressed and anxious. She is timid and self conscious. She is not pretty enough.
Too old. Too damaged. But she says she is replacing that. She may be a lot of to some people. But she is who she is. First, she was herself and that’s who she is now. She doesn’t want or need labels. It’s time to be who she was meant to be from day one!
And that goes for you too. She wrote you and me a poem today.
First, there was you
And only you
You didn’t know the world
Would bring you down
You let words, and labels stick
You thought others defined you
The words were heavy like bricks.
You carried that around
It was hard to be you
You lost your way
Of what you were meant to do.
First there was you
Before all that happened
Before others words
Defined your actions
Now is the time to be the you
That you know you are
You are the only one who has been with you
From the beginning
Near and far
So trust in yourself
And do those things
Be those things
Be you.
Because first, there was you.
Today there is you.
You are true. You are you.
So today, as we work on rebuilding this house and this land for the future yous that need to be helped and rescued and revived, we invite you to take care of your rebuilding too.
Let’s do this all together, family.
–Fruitycake
