Fruitycake’s Monday Affirmation: Let Go Of Those Who Don’t Lift You Up

This is Fruitycake. Not everyone who walks beside you is helping you move forward. Some people encourage you, remind you of your worth and make you want to become a better version of yourself. Other people leave you feeling smaller, heavier and more uncertain every time you are around them. You do not have to keep giving your energy to someone simply because you have known them for a long time, tried hard to understand them or hoped they would eventually treat you differently.

Dogs can teach us a lot about this. Many rescue dogs have known people or places that did not make them feel safe, valued or loved. Sometimes, a dog must leave behind the only life they have ever known before discovering what home is truly supposed to feel like. The past may not disappear immediately. A dog may still flinch, hide or wonder whether the good things will last. But with the right people, that dog slowly begins to change. Their tail rises. Their eyes become brighter. They learn to play, rest and trust. They begin to understand that love is not supposed to hurt, frighten or diminish them.

People need that kind of love too. Letting someone go does not mean you hate them or wish them harm. It means you have accepted that your peace matters. You are allowed to step away from people who constantly criticize you, compete with you, drain you or make you question the good inside yourself. The right people will not demand that you become smaller so they can feel bigger. They will celebrate your progress, sit beside you through the difficult parts and remind you who you are when you temporarily forget.

This is also why sharing the stories of rescue animals matters. Somewhere, a dog may be waiting in a shelter for the person who will see their story and recognize who they could become with safety, patience and love. Through our voluntary social-media work, we network animals in need and give shelters greater exposure so that more people can see those dogs, share their stories and help them find the right homes. Sometimes, being left behind is not the end of a dog’s story. Sometimes, it is the beginning of the journey toward the person and life they were always supposed to find. And now it’s time to find the time for today’s affirmation! Ready to say it out loud with me?

My Monday affirmation is: I give myself permission to let go of anyone who does not lift me up, respect my heart or encourage me to grow. Just like a rescue dog discovering that life can be gentle, safe and filled with love, I will stop believing that the way I was treated in the past is all I deserve. Walking away is not giving up. Sometimes, it is how we finally find our way home.

As we step into this week ahead, please remember that you are not alone. You are allowed to rest, breathe and take things one moment at a time. Even on the days when you feel tired or uncertain, you are still worthy of kindness, gentleness and care.

I love you. Truly. I hope you carry that with you this week, especially on the days when you forget it.

Fruitycake

P.S. We urgently need our community’s help this week. For more than fifteen years, we have voluntarily used our social-media platforms to network animals in need, share their stories and give shelters and rescue organizations greater exposure. Right now, we need help with groceries as we prepare for extreme weather, Fruitycake’s veterinary care and unexpected expenses involved in preparing for our September 3 shelter visit. This visit will allow us to research and begin laying the foundation for the next chapter of our animal-rescue outreach when we return to the United States. Please join our Patreon community for only $5 a month at www.patreon.com/2travelingdogsrescue⁠, help with our immediate necessities at www.tinyurl.com/2tdnecessities⁠, donate through Venmo at travelingdogs2, or send through Zelle to rachael@2travelingdogs.com. Please do not assume someone else will help. If our voluntary work and mission to Make Rescues The Breed Of Choice matter to you, we truly need you to stand beside us today.