impRAWvise 

I adopted Maya last year in February, so we have been together for more than a year now. I have actually written a few posts at the beginning of this journey about my decision to adopt here and the entire process. I always wanted a dog, like I mentioned before in my posts, and like I love to joke, I pretty much wanted a dog for 30 years, I got Maya when I was almost 31. Yep, I think its cute and funny, I have had dogs before, in a foster environment and with my partner at that time we even adopted one for about two years but then the dog died, it was a complicated story.

Still I always knew I wanted a dog but I kept waiting to be ready emotionally, financially and so on, the truth is I do not think I was ready when I got Maya either, but that’s a whole other story. Stil, living together and bringing Maya into my life is great and it has been one of the best decisions that I have ever made in my life. It is not easy, and especially in the beginning as we had to get both used to a new routine it was exhausting, but it was and it is all worth it. Sometimes creating space, making time, taking the time to do the right things is a process, but with time and constant repetition, is simply becomes reinforcement bit by bit.

Now when I look of all those hard times, and even we still have hard times when it comes to training her continuously and consistently, which I have not been doing so great lately, but hey I am being gentle with myself, since there is a lot going on in my life lately, starting a new job, following a second university program since last year, and in general my own mental health challenges which got escalated last year bursting into a complete burnout. During all those times and on going, Maya has been a continuous support for me, a life partner, a joyful companion and I just think that having a dog is simply amazing and if I was able to manage those challenges of having a dog, during one of the worst times of my life in relationship to my mental health and wellbeing that pretty much anyone can do it.

Baby steps, baby steps, and one again baby steps. Its still a work in progress for me as well and it always will be especially to take things slowly and to us the baby steps approach, as well as be gentle with myself, as I have very strong tendencies toward performance and perfectionism in all life areas. Still, being aware of those flaws have helped me tremendously along the years and has definitely soften the rough edges of my personality from time to time as needed. With Maya as well its a content work, its a work in progress and I am so grateful for having her into my life and for all the lessons that she has taught me and she continuous to teach me on a day to day basis.