Given the sadness I’ve felt since my mom passed away in 2004, this is something that felt very evasive to me. I wasn’t sure I would ever be happy the same way again.

I can say that getting my dog added some tremendous value and warmth to my life. He is my wonderful baby beagle – Jasper – and I love him so much. He makes me smile and laugh the way I figure that my children will when they’re at that age when they are learning new things and surprise you with their actions.

Now, my patience has improved (after my dog has chewed holes in every comforter I own and my very favorite sweatshirt material blanket) and there is little that rattles me the way it used to.

I am making plans for my future and valuing the improvements I’m making. This is new for me. I didn’t used to feel the satisfaction of accomplishing something before looking for the next hill to climb. Now I bask in the accomplishment of achievements – like recently moving into a condo. It’s more “homey” than the apartments that I’ve been living in for years and even though I’m still renting I have been given the green light to “make it my own” and I cherish that.

So my life is much happier lately, but the most important part is that my capacity for happiness has increased in a way I didn’t think possible just a few short months ago.

(Some very wonderful people came into my life when I needed it most and gave me hope for a brighter future too.)